Graduation Semester and Year
Spring 2025
Language
English
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Communications
Department
Communication
First Advisor
Mengqi Zhan
Second Advisor
Chyng-Yang Jang
Third Advisor
Vinicio Sinta
Abstract
In an increasingly globalized professional environment, this study examines differences in uncertainty about social expectations, social comparison, and inauthentic self-presentation between U.S. students and Vietnamese international students on LinkedIn. Grounded in cultural dimensions and social comparison frameworks, the research investigates (1) differences in uncertainty, social comparison, and inauthentic self-presentation between the two groups, (2) the predictive roles of uncertainty and social comparison on inauthentic self-presentation, and (3) the moderating effects of country and self-construal levels on these relationships.
Survey data were collected from Vietnamese international students (n = 163) and U.S. students (n = 160). The findings revealed that Vietnamese international students experienced significantly higher uncertainty, social comparison, and inauthentic self-presentation on LinkedIn. Furthermore, uncertainty about social expectations (β = .471, p < .001) and social comparison (β = .536, p < .001) positively predicted inauthentic self-presentation after controlling for country of origin. Moderation analysis further indicated that self-construal level, rather than country, moderated the relationship between social comparison and inauthentic self-presentation, with stronger positive associations observed at higher levels of self-construal. The results highlight the importance of cultural and psychological factors in shaping professional self-presentation behaviors on LinkedIn and suggest the need for culturally sensitive interventions that support international students' authentic self-presentation in professional digital environments.
Keywords
social expectation uncertainty, inauthentic self-presentation, social comparison, self-construal, U.S. students, Vietnamese international students, LinkedIn, cross-cultural differences, professional networking, impression management
Disciplines
International and Intercultural Communication | Social Media
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Dang, Thu, "Between Worlds, Between Selves: Comparative Self-Presentation Under Social Expectation Uncertainty Among U.S. Students and Vietnamese International Students" (2025). Communication Theses. 67.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/communication_theses/67
Comments
For most people, a thesis concludes a long academic journey. But for me, it opened doors I never imagined I’d have the courage to walk through. This work is not just a destination; it is a beginning, shaped by every person who guided, challenged, and walked beside me.
To my committee chair, Dr. Monica Zhan, for your steadfast belief in me. You guided me not just with knowledge, but with the compassion and encouragement of a true mentor—someone who cared for me as more than just a student. Your presence has been one of the greatest gifts of this journey.
To my committee members, Dr. Chyng-Yang Chang and Dr. Vinicio Sinta, for your insightful feedback and unwavering commitment to strengthening my work. Under your guidance, I completed my “very first” full research project in the U.S., a milestone I will carry with pride.
To the professors and staff of the Department of Communication for creating a home where inquiry is encouraged, voices are heard, and students like me are given the space to grow.
To Dr. Markham Shaw and the College of Liberal Arts, for your generous support, which allowed me to focus fully on learning and living this extraordinary chapter.
To my Master of Communication Studies classmates, Class of 2025, for walking beside me through every challenge and triumph. Your laughter, conversations, and solidarity made this journey infinitely richer.
To my parents and younger brother in Vietnam, whose love knows no distance. Your daily calls, quiet sacrifices, and unwavering faith in me have been my greatest source of strength. Every word of encouragement traveled across oceans to lift me higher.
To my teachers and friends in Vietnam, whose early lessons and enduring belief gave me the courage to dream far beyond what I once thought possible.
To my beloved Minh Duc, who carried me through the hardest days with endless patience, love, and quiet acts of care, whether it was driving me to class, cheering me on in moments of doubt, or simply believing in me when I struggled to believe in myself.
... and to the version of myself who crossed an ocean with more dreams than certainty—a small, shy girl who learned, day by day, to stand a little taller. I thank her, too, for her bravery.
This thesis carries not just my name, but the imprints of every hand and heart that helped shape it.
With boundless gratitude,
Tôi tự hào vì là một sinh viên quốc tế Việt Nam học ngành Truyền thông ở Hoa Kỳ (I am proud to be a Vietnamese international student studying Communication in the United States).