This study investigates the determinants of social support. We used a random sample of 211 female Chinese marriage migrants from a 2-year longitudinal secondary data set and conducted bivariate and multivariate multiple regressions to examine the associations of social support with acculturation stress, persistent acculturation stress, psychological wellbeing, perceived neighborhood disorder, and optimism. Results showed that marriage migrants have difficulties rebuilding their social network outside their own communities. Acculturation stress and psychological wellbeing were the two significant factors affecting social support. Findings suggest that social support interventions should focus on alleviating acculturation stress, expanding social networking opportunities, and enhancing psychological wellbeing.
AbendT.A.WilliamsonG.M. (2002) ‘Feeling Attractive in the Wake of Breast Cancer: Optimism Matters and So Do Interpersonal Relationships’, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin28: 427–36.
2.
AlmeidaJ.MolnarB.E.KawachiI.SubramanianS.V. (2009) ‘Ethnicity and Nativity Status as Determinants of Perceived Social Support: Testing the Concept of Familism’, Social Science & Medicine68: 1852–8.
3.
AneshenselC.S.FrerichsR.R. (1982) ‘Stress, Support, and Depression: A Longitudinal Causal Model’, Journal of Community Psychology10: 363–76.
4.
AntonucciT.C.JacksonJ.S. (1990) ‘The Role of Reciprocity in Social Support’, in SarasonB.R.SarasonI.G.PierceG.R. (eds) Social Support: An Interactional View, pp. 173–98. New York: Wiley.
5.
BaronR.M.KennyD.A. (1986) ‘The Moderator-Mediator Variable Distinction in Social Psychological: Research: Conceptual, Strategic, and Statistical Considerations’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology51: 1173–82.
6.
BarreraM. (1986) ‘Distinctions between Social Support Concepts, Measures, and Models’, American Journal of Community Psychology14: 413–45.
7.
BarreraM. (1988) ‘Models of Social Support and Life Stress: Beyond the Buffering Hypothesis’, in CohenL.H. (ed.) Life Events and Psychological Functioning: Theoretical and Methodological Issues, pp. 211–36. Newbury Park, CA: SAGE.
8.
BerkmanL.F. (1985) ‘The Relationship of Social Networks and Social Support to Morbidity and Mortality’, in CohenS.SymeS.L. (eds) Social Support and Health, pp. 241–62. Orlando, FL: Academic Press.
9.
BerryJ.W. (2005) ‘Acculturation: Living Successfully in Two Cultures’, International Journal of Intercultural Relations29: 697–712.
10.
BowlingN.A.BeehrT.A.SwaderW.M. (2005) ‘Giving and Receiving Social Support at Work: The Roles of Personality and Reciprocity’, Journal of Vocational Behavior67: 476–89.
11.
BrissetteI.ScheierM.F.CarverC.S. (2002) ‘The Role of Optimism in Social Network Development, Coping, and Psychological Adjustment During a Life Transition’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology82: 102–11.
12.
ByrnesH.F.MillerB.A. (2012) ‘The Relationship between Neighborhood Characteristics and Effective Parenting Behaviors: The Role of Social Support’, Journal of Family Issues33: 1658–87.
13.
CarverC.S.KusL.A.ScheierM.F. (1994) ‘Effects of Good versus Bad Mood and Optimistic versus Pessimistic Outlook on Social Acceptance Versus Rejection’, Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology13: 138–51.
14.
ChaeS.ParkJ.W.KangH.S. (2014) ‘Relationships of Acculturative Stress, Depression, and Social Support to Health-Related Quality of Life in Vietnamese Immigrant Women in South Korea’, Journal of Transcultural Nursing25: 137–44.
15.
ChouK.L. (2000) ‘Assessing Chinese Adolescents’ Social Support: The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support’, Personality and Individual Differences28: 299–307.
16.
ChouK.L. (2009) ‘Pre-Migration Planning and Depression among New Migrants to Hong Kong: The Moderating Role of Social Support’, Journal of Affective Disorders114: 85–93.
17.
ChouK.L. (2012) ‘Perceived Discrimination and Depression among New Migrants to Hong Kong: The Moderating Role of Social Support and Neighborhood Collective Efficacy’, Journal of Affective Disorders138: 63–70.
18.
ChowN.W.S.HoJ.K.M. (1996) ‘Social Work with New Arrivals’, in ChiI.CheungS.K. (eds) Social Work in Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Social Workers Association, pp. 112–118.
19.
CobbS. (1976) ‘Social Support as a Moderator of Life Stress’, Psychosomatic Medicine38: 300–14.
20.
CohenS.SymeS.L. (1985) ‘Issues in the Study and Application of Social Support’, in CohenS.SymeS.L. (eds) Social Support and Health. Orlando, FL: Academic Press, pp. 3–22.
21.
CohenS.WillsT.A. (1985) ‘Stress, Social Support, and the Buffering Hypothesis’, Psychological Bulletin98: 310–57.
22.
CornmanJ.C.GoldmanN.WeinsteinM.LinH.S. (2001) ‘Perception of Elderly Taiwanese about the Availability of Social Support’, working paper no. 2001-05. Princeton, NJ: Office of Population Research Princeton University.
23.
CourtensA.M.StevensF.C.J.CrebolderH.F.J.M.PhilipsenH. (1996) ‘Longitudinal Study on Quality of Life and Social Support in Cancer Patients’, Cancer Nursing19: 162–9.
24.
DanielsK.GuppyA. (1997) ‘Stressors, Locus of Control, and Social Support as Consequences of Affective Psychological Well-Being’, Journal of Occupational Health Psychology2: 156–74.
25.
El-BasselN.ChenD.R.CooperD. (1998) ‘Social Support and Social Network Profiles among Women on Methadone’, Social Service Review72: 379–491.
26.
EmersonR.M. (1976) ‘Social Exchange Theory’, Annual Review of Sociology2: 335–62.
27.
FernandezI.Silvan-FerreroP.MoleroF.GaviriaE.García-AelC. (2015) ‘Perceived Discrimination and Well-Being in Romanian Immigrants: The Role of Social Support’, Journal of Happiness Studies16(4): 857–70.
28.
FinchJ.F.BarreraM.OkunM.A.BryantW.H.M.PoolG.J.Snow-TurekA.L. (1997) ‘The Factor Structure of Received Social Support: Dimensionality and the Prediction of Depression and Life Satisfaction’, Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology16: 323–42.
29.
FischerC.S. (1982) To Dwell among Friends: Personal Networks in Town and City. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
30.
FyrandL.MoumT.FinsetA.GlennåsA. (2003) ‘The Effect of Social Network Intervention for Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis’, Family Process42: 71–89.
31.
GapenM.CrossD.OrtigoK.GrahamA.JohnsonE.EvcesM.ResslerK.J.BradleyB. (2011) ‘Perceived Neighborhood Disorder, Community Cohesion, and PTSD Symptoms among Low-Income African Americans in an Urban Health Setting’, American Journal of Orthopsychiatry81: 31–7.
32.
General Household Survey Section. (2010) Quarterly Report on General Household Survey. Hong Kong: Census and Statistics Department.
33.
GoldbergR.W.RollinsA.L.LehmanA.F. (2003) ‘Social Network Correlates among People with Psychiatric Disabilities’, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal26: 393–402.
34.
Hong Kong International Social Service. (1997) A Study on the Chinese New Immigrants in Hong Kong. Hong Kong: International Social Service.
35.
HlebecV.MrzelM.KogovsekT. (2009) ‘Social Support Network and Received Support at Stressful Events’, Metodoloski Zvezki6: 155–71.
36.
HobfollS.LermanM. (1989) ‘Predicting Receipt of Social Support: A Longitudinal Study of Parents’ Reactions to their Child’s Illness’, Health Psychology8: 61–77.
37.
HoganaB.E.LindenaW.NajarianbB. (2002) ‘Social Support Interventions: Do They Work?Clinical Psychology Review22: 381–440.
38.
Home Affairs Department and Immigration Department. (2013) Statistics on New Arrivals from the Mainland. Hong Kong: HKSAR Government.
39.
HouseJ.S. (1981) Work Stress and Social Support. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
40.
HouseJ.S.UmbersonD.LandisK.R. (1988) ‘Structures and Processes of Social Support’, Annual Review of Sociology14: 293–318.
41.
HoveyJ.D.MagañaC. (2000) ‘Acculturative Stress, Anxiety, and Depression among Mexican Immigrant Farmworkers in the Midwest United States’, Journal of Immigrant Health2: 119–31.
42.
KaniastyK. (2012) ‘Predicting Social Psychological Well-Being Following Trauma: The Role of Postdisaster Social Support’, Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy4: 22–33.
43.
KaniastyK.NorrisF.H. (1993) ‘A Test of the Social Support Deterioration Model in the Context of Natural Disaster’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology64: 395–408.
44.
KuoW.H.TsaiY.M. (1986) ‘Social Networking, Hardiness and Immigrant’s Mental Health’, Journal of Health and Social Behavior27: 133–49.
45.
LaffayeC.CavellaS.DrescherK.RosenC. (2008) ‘Relationships among PTSD Symptoms, Social Support, and Support Source in Veterans with Chronic PTSD’, Journal of Traumatric Stress21: 394–401.
46.
LaiJ.C.L.CheungH.LeeW.M.YuH. (1998) ‘The Utility of the Revised Life Orientation Test to Measure Optimism among Hong Kong Chinese’, International Journal of Psychology33: 45–56.
47.
LaiP.C.Y. (1997) ‘An Exploratory Study on Chinese Immigrant Women in Hong Kong’, in ShekD.T.L.LamM.C.AuC.F. (eds) Social Work in Hong Kong: Reflections and Challenges. Hong Kong: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, pp. 143–164.
48.
LeporeS.EvansG.W.SchneiderM.L. (1991) ‘Dynamic Role of Social Support in the Link between Chronic Stress and Psychological Distress’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology61: 899–909.
49.
LieblerC.A.SandefurG.D. (2002) ‘Gender Differences in the Exchange of Social Support with Friends, Neighbors, and Co-Workers at Midlife’, Social Science Research31: 364–91.
50.
LuL. (1995) ‘Correlates of Social Support: Personal Characteristics and Social Resources’, Counselling Psychology Quarterly8: 173–82.
51.
MakJ.W.H.LauB.W.K. (1992) ‘Stress as a Social Phenomenon in Hong Kong’, in LauS.K.LeeM.K.WanP.S.WongS. L. (eds) Indicators of Social Development: Hong Kong 1990. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, Chinese University of Hong Kong, pp. 33–51.
52.
MatsudairaT. (2003) ‘Cultural Influences on the Use of Social Support by Chinese Immigrants in Japan: “Face” as a Keyword’, Qualitative Health Research13: 343–57.
53.
MoP.K.H.MakW.W.S.KwanC.S.Y. (2006) ‘Cultural Change and Chinese Immigrants’ Distress and Help-Seeking in Hong Kong’, Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work15: 129–51.
54.
NorrisF.H.KaniastyK. (1996) ‘Received and Perceived Social Support in Times of Stress: A Test of the Social Support Deterioration Deterrence Model’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology71: 498–511.
55.
NorrisF.H.BakerC.K.MurphyA.D.KaniastyK. (2005) ‘Social Support Mobilization and Deterioration after Mexico’s 1999 Flood: Effects of Context, Gender, and Time’, American Journal of Community Psychology36: 15–28.
56.
PrezzaM.PacilliM.G. (2002) ‘Perceived Social Support from Significant Others, Family and Friends and Several Socio-Demographic Characteristics’, Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology12: 422–9.
57.
ProcidanoM.E.HellerK. (1983) ‘Measures of Perceived Social Support from Friends and Family: Three Validational Studies’, American Journal of Community Psychology11: 1–24.
58.
QuittnerA.L.GlueckaufR.L.JacksonD.N. (1990) ‘Chronic Parenting Stress: Moderating versus Mediating Effects of Social Support’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology59: 1266–78.
59.
RossC.E.MirowskyJ. (1999) ‘Disorder and Decay: The Concept and Measurement of Perceived Neighborhood Disorder’, Urban Affairs Review34: 412–32.
60.
SarasonB.R.SarasonI.G.PierceG.R. (1990) Social Support: An Interactional View. New York: Wiley.
61.
SchulzR.TompkinsC.A. (1990) ‘Life Events and Changes in Social Relationships: Examples, Mechanisms, and Measurement’, Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology9: 69–77.
62.
SobelM.E. (1982) ‘Asymptotic Confidence Intervals for Indirect Effects in Structural Equations Models’, in LeinhartS. (ed.) Sociological Methodology 1982, pp. 290–312. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
63.
ThompsonE.E.KrauseN. (1998) ‘Living Alone and Neighborhood Characteristics as Predictors of Social Support in Late Life’, The Journal of Gerontology53B: S354–64.
64.
TurnerR.J. (1981) ‘Social Support as a Contingency in Psychological Well-Being’, Journal of Health and Social Behavior22: 357–67.
65.
TurneyK.HarknettK. (2010) ‘Neighborhood Disadvantage, Residential Stability, and Perceptions of Instrumental Support among New Mothers’, Journal of Family Issues31: 499–524.
66.
VauxA. (1985) ‘Variations in Social Support Associated with Gender, Ethnicity and Age’, Journal of Social Issues41: 89–110.
67.
VauxA. (1990) ‘An Ecological Approach to Understanding and Facilitating Social Support’, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships7: 507–18.
68.
WongD.F.K. (1997) A Study of the Psychosocial Stressors, Coping and Mental Health of Mainland Chinese Immigrants: Their First Two Years of Experiences in Hong Kong. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: La Trobe University.
69.
WongD.F.K. (2001) ‘Differential Functions and Sources of Social Support of Mainland Chinese Immigrants during Resettlement in Hong Kong: A Qualitative Analysis’, Journal of Social Work Research2: 319–32.
70.
YuX.StewartS.M.LiuI.K.F.LamT.H. (2014) ‘Resilience and Depressive Symptoms in Mainland Chinese Immigrants to Hong Kong’, Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology49: 241–9.
71.
ZhaoY.ZhangX.DuJ.ZhengX. (2014) ‘Relationship between Social Support and Depression, Loneliness of Migrant Children: Resilience as a Moderator and Mediator’, Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology22: 512–6.
72.
ZimetG.D.DahlemN.W.ZimetS.G.FarleyG.K. (1988) ‘The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support’, Journal of Personality Assessment52: 30–41.
