Connecting Across Borders: A Systematic Review of How Information and Communication Technologies Influence Emotional, Social, and Cultural Dynamics in Transnational Families

Abstract

This systematic review examines how information and communication technologies (ICT) shape emotional, social, and cultural dynamics within transnational families (TNFs). Drawing on 113 articles identified through a Zotero bibliographic library developed by Working Group 1 of the COST Action Transnational Family Dynamics in Europe [TraFaDy], the study synthesizes research on ICT-mediated family practices within TNFs. Through descriptive coding and thematic analysis, we examined participant profiles, research designs, communication practices, origin and host countries, the drivers of ICT use, and emotional, social, and cultural consequences. Findings show that ICT enhances communication, facilitates co-presence across distance, and supports emotional bonds, while also generating complex ambivalences shaped by socioeconomic conditions, digital literacy, migration status, and intra-family power dynamics. Although digital tools strengthen family roles, caregiving arrangements, and transnational belonging, they may simultaneously reinforce inequalities, intensify surveillance, or create emotional strain. Cultural processes such as enculturation, acculturation, and cultural integration were shown to be deeply intertwined with ICT use, revealing how digital communication sustains cultural continuity while enabling hybrid cultural formations. The review concludes with recommendations for strengthening research and policy initiatives related to digital inclusion, family support, and integration, with the aim of enhancing the well-being of TNFs.