“It keeps me close to my family”

Social media and transnational adaptation among African graduate international students in the United States

Authors

  • Diane Ezeh Aruah University of Florida, USA
  • Obianuju Aliche Mayo Clinic, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/tpgce829

Keywords:

social media, Adaptation, acculturation, African graduate students, transnationalism, international students

Abstract

This study examines the role of social media in the adaptation and acculturation experiences of African graduate students in the United States. While research on international students has focused on academic, cultural, and social challenges, limited attention has been given to how digital platforms shape everyday adjustment, particularly among African students. Drawing on social support theory, acculturation theory, and transnational perspectives, this study explores how social media functions within students’ lived experiences of migration. Using a qualitative design, in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 African graduate students from countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Cameroon, and Sierra Leone at a public U.S. university. Thematic analysis revealed that social media supports family connections, emotional coping, information seeking, and network building. The findings suggest that social media enables ongoing transnational engagement, allowing students to remain connected to home while adapting to new environments, highlighting its central role in contemporary adaptation processes.

Author Biographies

  • Diane Ezeh Aruah, University of Florida, USA

    DIANE EZEH ARUAH, PhD, is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Media Production, Management, and Technology at the University of Florida, United States. Her research focuses on health communication, international student adaptation, digital media, intercultural communication, and issues of race, gender, and media representation.

  • Obianuju Aliche, Mayo Clinic, USA

    OBIANUJU ALICHE, PhD, is a behavioral scientist and a research fellow at Mayo Clinic. Her research focuses on improving cancer prevention and
     reducing disparities through patient-centered, community-engaged, communication- and technology-enabled interventions.

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Published

2026-08-19

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 18 (2026): Journal of International Students

Section

Research Articles (English, regular edition)

Categories

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Copyright (c) 2026 Diane Ezeh Aruah, Obianuju Aliche

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

How to Cite

Ezeh Aruah, D., & Aliche, O. (2026). “It keeps me close to my family”: Social media and transnational adaptation among African graduate international students in the United States. Journal of International Students, 16(18), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.32674/tpgce829