Expatriate partners' subjective well-being and related resource losses and gains. Issue 4 (8th August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kanstrén, Kaisu; Mäkelä, Liisa
• Is Part Of: Community, work & family. Volume 25:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 523
• Page End: 550
• Publication Date: 2022-08-08
• Subjects: Expatriate partners -- subjective well-being -- conservation of resources theory -- thematic analysis; Women -- Employment -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Work and family -- Periodicals; Community -- Periodicals; 301
• DOI: 10.1080/13668803.2020.1801582
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1366-8803

Abstract

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.