TY - JOUR
T1 - Determinants of intercultural adjustment among expatriate spouses
AU - Ali, Anees
AU - Van der Zee, K.I.
AU - Sanders, Geert
PY - 2003/9
Y1 - 2003/9
N2 - The adaptation of expatriate families to a host country seems crucial to successful fulfilment of international business assignments. The present study focused on personality, family characteristics and characteristics of expatriates' work life as determinants of the intercultural adjustment of expatriate spouses. Among a sample of 247 expatriate spouses it was first shown that in particular the traits of open-mindedness and emotional stability were associated with expatriate spouses' adjustment. In addition, family cohesion and family adaptability were found to have an impact on the spouses' adjustment. Of the work related variables, both support from the company and work satisfaction were related to indicators of adjustment. These effects sustained after controlling for the influence of demographic variables such as duration of expatriation, command of the local language, having visited the country prior to relocation and economic situation that were also found to contribute to spouses' adjustment. The implications of these findings are discussed.
AB - The adaptation of expatriate families to a host country seems crucial to successful fulfilment of international business assignments. The present study focused on personality, family characteristics and characteristics of expatriates' work life as determinants of the intercultural adjustment of expatriate spouses. Among a sample of 247 expatriate spouses it was first shown that in particular the traits of open-mindedness and emotional stability were associated with expatriate spouses' adjustment. In addition, family cohesion and family adaptability were found to have an impact on the spouses' adjustment. Of the work related variables, both support from the company and work satisfaction were related to indicators of adjustment. These effects sustained after controlling for the influence of demographic variables such as duration of expatriation, command of the local language, having visited the country prior to relocation and economic situation that were also found to contribute to spouses' adjustment. The implications of these findings are discussed.
KW - Expatriate spouses
KW - Expatriate work situation
KW - Family factors
KW - Intercultural adjustment
KW - Personality
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U2 - 10.1016/S0147-1767(03)00054-3
DO - 10.1016/S0147-1767(03)00054-3
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0041841450
SN - 0147-1767
VL - 27
SP - 563
EP - 580
JO - International Journal of Intercultural Relations
JF - International Journal of Intercultural Relations
IS - 5
ER -