Qualitative study explores the impact of dating apps on acculturation in Chinese female students, highlighting cultural challenges and opportunities.
Through the lens of culturally specific acculturation, this qualitative study examines how applications-enabled dating experiences shape acculturation among Chinese female international students in the UK. Drawing on semi-structured interviews of fifteen postgraduates, the findings reveal the paradoxical roles of intercultural dating in acculturation: a practical tool for enhancing language proficiency and communication skills, and a catalyst for cultural shocks related to casual sex. As a temporary strategy to address acculturative challenges, participants’ application-enabled dating further illustrates how transient intercultural intimacy supports and shapes the fluid trajectory of acculturation. These findings extend our understanding of digital media in acculturation and advocate a gender-culturally inclusive approach to navigating acculturative challenges.
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