Van Gorp, LoreBoros, SmarandaBracke, P.Stevens, Peter2017-12-022017-12-02201710.1016/j.ijintrel.2017.04.007http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12127/5758This 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.enSociocultural AdjustmentPsychological AdjustmentEmotional SupportRole IdentityInternational Journal of Intercultural Relations1433732288411411551424917067