Expatriates' families: A systematic literature review and research agenda

Dang, Quyen Thao; Rammal, Hussain Gulzar; Michailova, Snejina

doi:10.1016/j.hrmr.2021.100877

Cited by 14 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 149 publications

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“…Expatriate assignments are critical for employee development and advancement, but they involve challenges for both the employee and the trailing spouse including adjusting to a new culture and navigating new family demands (Dang et al., 2021). The inability of a spouse or family to adjust is a risk factor for early termination of the assignment, thus inclusion of family structure and experiences are key to understanding expatriate adjustment (Gregersen & Stroh, 1997; Shaffer & Harrison, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Work‐family research: A review and next steps

Allen

French

2023

Personnel Psychology

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Our review highlights key contributions to the work‐family literature, including research published in Personnel Psychology. We review foundational key constructs (e.g., work‐family conflict), theories (e.g., boundary management), and methodology and measurement issues (e.g., episodic versus levels approaches) at the intersection of work and family. We then review select topics that move from the more micro (e.g., individual emotions and health) to the more macro (e.g., cross‐cultural) in scope. In addition, taking stock of the work‐family field's trajectory, we mapped future research directions that have been posed by researchers over the past two decades in previous narrative reviews and examine the extent that they have been heeded within the Personnel Psychology work‐family literature. We use insights from the past and from contemporary research, as well as from societal trends, to provide a set of “next generation” future research directions. Finally, we provide practical implications from the research to date.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Work‐family research: A review and next steps

Allen

French

2023

Personnel Psychology

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“…Social interactions play a significant role in expatriate families' international assignments, as in many cases, ‘social communities’ are the main or only groups with which trailing spouses and their children interact. There is a need to investigate more about these relationships (Dang et al. , 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship dynamics of trailing spouses before and during a time of crisis

Vegh

Dúll²,

Luu³

2023

JGM

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PurposeThis qualitative study explores how trailing spouses form their relationships before and after a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic and what patterns can be observed. It explores their significant relationships with friends and extended family, focusing on dynamics and change.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted semi-structured interviews with seven trailing spouses in Malaysia: before the pandemic, in the beginning and at the end of the first year of the pandemic. The authors used longitudinal interpretative phenomenological analysis (LIPA).FindingsBeing aware of the limits of resources emerged as a key factor in how trailing spouses develop and maintain relationships with friends and extended family. The fact that the pandemic changed the dynamics of their social networks illuminates how crucial these relationships or their absence are in their adjustment and readjustment process. Children play a significant role in these relationships.Research limitations/implicationsComparative research into the friendships and relationships of different groups of trailing spouses in various locations could capture more specificity of the relationship dynamics.Practical implicationsThe explored patterns can promote a better understanding of the relationship dynamics of trailing spouses' networks, which can, in turn, support and facilitate both adjustment and repatriation processes. They can help explain how and what kind of social networks best support trailing spouse transition during a time of crisis or adjustment. These findings could be incorporated into intercultural training programs.Originality/valueNo current study that the authors know of has explored trailing spouses' relationship dynamics in a longitudinal study before and during a crisis.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Notwithstanding this evidence, expatriate research has generally addressed IA experiences of individuals originating from home-countries with more gender-balanced access to economic opportunities and career advancement, i.e. the West and global north regions (Dang et al, 2022). So far, limited information is available regarding the dual-career experiences of individuals from home-countries located in the global south, where patriarchal structures and ideologies are still prevalent and shape women's career experiences and decisions (Adisa et al, 2020), arguably influencing to a greater extent the decision-making process of individuals in accepting and/or supporting IAs.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Dual-career expatriate partners' motives for supporting international assignments: evidence from a patriarchal society

Nery-Kjerfve,

Polesello

2023

JGM

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PurposeExtant expatriate literature largely adopts a global north/western focus and expatriate-centric approach in investigating spousal/partners’ motives for supporting expatriation. Contrastingly, this study focuses on the lived experiences of dual-career female partners from an emerging global south economy and a patriarchal society as it relates to motives for supporting a partner’s international assignment (IA) to a developed country.Design/methodology/approachThis investigation adopts a hermeneutic interpretive phenomenology research design. Twelve career-oriented female partners from an emerging global south economy (Brazil) who supported a partner’s IA to a developed country (USA) participated in this study. The data included semi-structured interviews and field notes.FindingsThe study indicates that societal constraints, gendered career experiences and career and life stage reasons influenced women’s decision to engage in career opt out and/or interruption in support of their partners' IA. Further, patriarchal long-lasting structures and ideologies shaped women’s career experiences; women perceived IAs as a means of acquiring embodied and institutionalized cosmopolitan capital for themselves and their families in order to gain a better position in a transnational/globalized world.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the sample size of this study is appropriate for the methodological choice adopted, future studies should include more participants and address different socioeconomic, political and cultural contexts.Originality/valueThis study highlights dual-career female partners' lived experiences in an emerging global south economy and a patriarchal society as it relates to motives for supporting IAs.

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Expatriates' families: A systematic literature review and research agenda

Cited by 14 publications

References 149 publications

Work‐family research: A review and next steps

Work‐family research: A review and next steps

Relationship dynamics of trailing spouses before and during a time of crisis

Dual-career expatriate partners' motives for supporting international assignments: evidence from a patriarchal society

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