Expatriate partners’ subjective well-being and related resource losses and gains

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the subjective well-being (SWB) and related resources of expatriate partners during international assignments. The data were collected in 20 in-depth interviews with the partners of high-status Finnish expatriates and analyzed by employing thematic analysis. The results show that relocation causes significant changes in expatriate partners’ condition resources that lead to changes in SWB either directly or through affecting their energy and personal resources. The findings highlight partners’ ability to replace lost resources and the importance of self-directed activity while doing so. Additionally, resource gain spirals seem to have a more powerful effect on partners’ SWB than resource loss cycles. This study contributes to the literature on expatriate partners by approaching their SWB and related changes in resources also from a positive perspective. Conservation of Resources theory is utilized as a framework for this study and we contribute to research on it by suggesting that condition resources might have a more important role than other resources in changing life situations. As a practical implication, we suggest that expatriate partners should be aware of that relocation will significantly affect their condition recourses. Organizations employing expatriates should give due consideration to partner concerns from the pre-departure phase until repatriation.

KEYWORDS:

• Expatriate partners
• subjective well-being
• conservation of resources theory
• thematic analysis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kaisu Kanstrén

Kaisu Kanstrén is a Ph.D. candidate in Human Resource Management at the University of Vaasa, School of Management. Her research interests include expatriate dual-career couples and the effects of international assignments on career identities, subjective well-being, and career capital development. She has published her research in international journals including International Journal of Human Resource Management

Liisa Mäkelä

Liisa Mäkelä is Professor of Human Resource Management at the University of Vaasa, School of Management, Finland. Her research interests are a combination of Management and Work Psychology. Mäkelä’s research focuses on the international workforce and occupational well-being, career paths, and work-life interface among international professionals. Leadership and gender issues are also part of her areas of interest. She has published her research in international journals including Human Resource Management and the International Journal of Human Resource Management, while she has also contributed book chapters. Her publications have covered themes such as work-family conflict and enrichment of international business travelers, expatriates, and global careerists, and occupational well-being international business travelers. Her publications have also shed a light on dual-career and gender issues related to the international work context.