ABSTRACT Geographically dispersed family members utilize frequent and diverse modes of communication to maintain their relationships. In transnational families separated by national boarders, family members may face constraints on channel selection due to cultural and/or structural factors. We draw from media multiplexity theory (MMT) and the cultural dimensions model to examine how transnationalism, societal individualism-collectivism (I-C), family allocentrism, and relational closeness influence the use of information communication technologies (ICTs) to maintain long-distance family relationships (LDFRs). Whereas results of the analysis provide cross-cultural support for MMT’s predictions regarding closeness and ICT frequency, the analysis reveals little support for MMT’s predictions regarding closeness and ICT variety. This study extends MMT by including culture in the study of relational closeness and ICT use, highlights the importance of family allocentrism when applying MMT to LDFRs, and demonstrates how transnational families can have frequent communication to maintain close, long-distance ties despite limited channel variety. Keywords: Culture, Immigrants, Information Communication Technologies, Long Distance Families, Relational ClosenessThis work was supported by the Humanities Center Faculty Fellowship program at Wayne State University.

中文翻译：

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成人远程家庭关系中对信息通信技术使用的文化和跨国影响：媒体多重性理论的扩展

摘要分散在各地的家庭成员利用频繁和多样的沟通方式来维持他们的关系。在由国家寄宿家庭分隔的跨国家庭中，家庭成员可能由于文化和/或结构因素而在渠道选择上面临限制。我们从媒体多元化理论（MMT）和文化维度模型中汲取经验，研究跨国主义，社会个人主义-集体主义（IC），家庭分配主义和亲密关系如何影响信息通信技术（ICT）的使用，以维持长距离家庭关系（LDFR）。尽管分析的结果为MMT关于亲密性和ICT频率的预测提供了跨文化的支持，但分析显示很少有人支持MMT关于亲密性和ICT多样性的预测。这项研究通过将文化纳入关系亲密性和ICT使用的研究来扩展MMT，强调了将MMT应用于LDFR时家庭分配的重要性，并展示了尽管渠道渠道有限，跨国家庭仍可以经常交流以保持紧密，长距离的联系。关键字：文化，移民，信息通信技术，长途家庭，亲密关系这项工作得到了韦恩州立大学人文中心教职研究员计划的支持。