An Effect of Online and Offline Social Capital on Japanese Immigrants’ Acculturation to American Culture

Online (through social interactive media) and offline (face-to-face) social capital have a synergetic effect on immigrants’ acculturation process. This cross-sectional survey study examined the relationship between social capital and acculturation to American culture among a sample of 380 Japanese immigrants who lived in Texas. The study revealed that Japanese immigrants with more online and offline contacts tended to be better acculturated to American culture. The findings have practical implications for social work practice in terms of the use of immigrants’ social capital, both online and offline, to enable them to better integrate in the country of immigration.