How Does Digital Technology Use Help Immigrants? Examining its Impact on Life Satisfaction of Immigrants in Korea

Abstract

Immigration process entails a range of difficulties and challenges for immigrants, and many immigrants experience loss of or severed social networks and relationships dur-ing the process. Research on immigrants’ social capital and well-being is widespread worldwide, though only a few studies have examined their well-being in the context of digitalization. In this paper, we focus on immigrants’ access to digital devices, digital competence, and digital utilization, and how each is related to their social capital and ultimately their well-being, namely life satisfaction. Using data from 2023 Digital Di-vide Survey, we found that immigrants’ digital competence and utilization were posi-tively related to social capital, and that using more functions and services online in-creased their life satisfaction. Mediation analyses also revealed that immigrants’ digital competence and utilization were mediated by social capital. Findings demonstrate the importance of boosting immigrants’ digital capital to assist their adjustment in Korea.