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Unpacking ICT-supported Social Connections and Support of Late-life Migration: From the Lens of Social Convoys

Ying Lei, Shuai Ma, Yuling Sun

TL;DR

The paper addresses how late-life migrants in China rebuild and sustain social connections amid displacement, using the social convoy model to map dynamic support networks. It employs a qualitative approach with 13 interviews to reveal a three-tier convoy structure, the roles of ICT in maintaining old ties and creating new connections, and the challenges of trust, authenticity, and information overload. Key contributions include applying the convoy lens to migrant ICT support, detailing design implications for elderly-friendly, trustworthy, and value-sensitive technologies, and offering practical guidance for targeted social support within migrant communities. The work advances HCI and CSCW understanding of migrant social ecosystems and informs development of ICT interventions tailored to late-life migrants' unique needs. This has practical significance for policymakers, designers, and service providers aiming to improve well-being and social integration for aging migrant populations.

Abstract

Migration and aging-related dilemmas have limited the opportunities for late-life migrants to rebuild social connections and access support. While research on migrants has drawn increasing attention in HCI, limited attention has been paid to the increasing number of late-life migrants. This paper reports a qualitative study examining the social connections and support of late-life migrants. In particular, drawing on the social convoy model, we pay specific attention to the dynamic changes of late-life migrants' social convoy, the supporting roles each convoy plays, the functions ICT plays in the process, as well as the encountered challenges and expectations of late-life migrants regarding ICT-supported social convoys. Based on these findings, we deeply discuss the role of the social convoy in supporting more targeted social support for late-life migrants, as well as broader migrant communities. Finally, we offer late-life migrant-oriented design considerations.

Unpacking ICT-supported Social Connections and Support of Late-life Migration: From the Lens of Social Convoys

TL;DR

The paper addresses how late-life migrants in China rebuild and sustain social connections amid displacement, using the social convoy model to map dynamic support networks. It employs a qualitative approach with 13 interviews to reveal a three-tier convoy structure, the roles of ICT in maintaining old ties and creating new connections, and the challenges of trust, authenticity, and information overload. Key contributions include applying the convoy lens to migrant ICT support, detailing design implications for elderly-friendly, trustworthy, and value-sensitive technologies, and offering practical guidance for targeted social support within migrant communities. The work advances HCI and CSCW understanding of migrant social ecosystems and informs development of ICT interventions tailored to late-life migrants' unique needs. This has practical significance for policymakers, designers, and service providers aiming to improve well-being and social integration for aging migrant populations.

Abstract

Migration and aging-related dilemmas have limited the opportunities for late-life migrants to rebuild social connections and access support. While research on migrants has drawn increasing attention in HCI, limited attention has been paid to the increasing number of late-life migrants. This paper reports a qualitative study examining the social connections and support of late-life migrants. In particular, drawing on the social convoy model, we pay specific attention to the dynamic changes of late-life migrants' social convoy, the supporting roles each convoy plays, the functions ICT plays in the process, as well as the encountered challenges and expectations of late-life migrants regarding ICT-supported social convoys. Based on these findings, we deeply discuss the role of the social convoy in supporting more targeted social support for late-life migrants, as well as broader migrant communities. Finally, we offer late-life migrant-oriented design considerations.
Paper Structure (39 sections, 3 figures, 3 tables)

This paper contains 39 sections, 3 figures, 3 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Background and Related Work
  3. Study Background: Late-life Migrants in the World and in China
  4. Theoretical Background: Social Convoy Model
  5. Social Connections of Migrants
  6. Social Connections of Older Adults
  7. Methodology
  8. Participants
  9. Data Collection
  10. Data Analysis
  11. FINDINGS
  12. Social Convoys of Older Drifters
  13. Closest Relationship
  14. Closer Relationship
  15. Least Close Relationship
  16. ...and 24 more sections

Figures (3)

  • Figure 1: Hypothetical example of a convoy rl1980conboys.
  • Figure 2: Structure and transitions of older drifters' convoys. Three concentric circles are used to represent close, closer, and the closest relationships respectively (from outer to inner). The left and right parts show the structures of older drifters before and after migration respectively, along with circle scalability and arrows to indicate the transitions.
  • Figure 3: Support roles of different convoy members. Arrows were used to connect older drifters and convoy members: colors indicated corresponding support types, arrow direction meant the relationship of providing/giving/exchange support; lighter colored line represented limited/faded support, and dotted line signified giver-dependent support.