Comparing social media use, discussion, political trust and political engagement among university students in China and Hong Kong: an application of the O–S–R–O–R model

ABSTRACT

Adopting the Orientation–Stimuli–Reasoning–Orientation–Response (O–S–R–O–R) model of political communication effects, this study examines the mediating roles of online/offline political discussion and political trust on the relationship between social media information seeking and online/offline political participation in China and Hong Kong. Findings through structural equation modeling showed that the relationship between information seeking and online participation was mediated by online discussion for both samples. Moreover, the relationship between information seeking and offline participation was mediated by offline discussion, and offline discussion mediated the relationship between information seeking and online participation. Political trust did not mediate any of the relationships in China and Hong Kong and all significant paths involving political trust were negative. Implications of the findings for youth political participation in China and Hong Kong are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Communication mediation model
• information seeking
• political discussion
• political trust
• political participation
• China
• Hong Kong

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Xueqing Li is currently working on a PhD degree in communication at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Her research interests include new media and civic life, social media and intimate relationship.

Michael Chan is an assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Communication, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. His research includes social media and democratic engagement, mobile phone and social capital etc.

ORCID

Michael Chan http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9911-593X