Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Publication

Emotional support on re-entry into the home country: Does it matter for repatriates' adjustment who the providers are?

Van Gorp, Lore
Boros, Smaranda
Bracke, P.
Stevens, Peter
Citations
Altmetric:
Publication Type
Journal article with impact factor
Editor
Supervisor
Publication Year
2017
Journal
International Journal of Intercultural Relations
Book
Publication Volume
58
Publication Issue
Publication Begin page
54
Publication End page
58
Publication Number of pages
Collections
Abstract
This study examines the influence of repatriates' emotional support providers (home country friends/relatives, host country friends/relatives, and friends/relatives with expatriate experience) on both their psychological and sociocultural adjustment on re-entry into their home country. The study builds on social identity theory and examines the mediating role of the salience of repatriates' international role identity. Predictions are tested using a quantitative survey data of 121 repatriates. The results show a positive indirect effect of the amount of support repatriates receive from home country friends/relatives on both dimensions of adjustment through a decreased salience of their international role identity. Furthermore, analyses show a negative indirect effect of maintaining supportive connections with host country friends/relatives on both psychological and sociocultural adjustment through an increased salience of repatriates' international role identity. The results also show a direct effect of having or not having host country friends/relatives as emotional support providers in such a way that repatriates who do not have supportive host country friends/relatives are better psychologically adjusted upon re-entry. This study raises new questions about generally accepted advice for the adjustment strategies of expatriates, such as building connections with host country nationals.
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
Sociocultural Adjustment, Psychological Adjustment, Emotional Support, Role Identity
Citation
Knowledge Domain/Industry
Other links
Embedded videos