Adaptação de Cônjuges e de Expatriados e sua relação com o Desempenho em Designações Internacionais

The adaptation of an expatriate is a function of several factors and family issues have been identified as potential influencers in the process. However, little is known about the effect of the existing role of the spouse in the adaptation of the expatriate. Thus, the objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the adjustment of expatriates and their spouses with the performance of the expatriate. It is a quantitative study with 217 couples in which one member of the couple occupied the expatriate position. The results showed no significant relationship between the adjustment of the spouse and the performance of the expatriate, but revealed that the adaptation of expatriate moderates the relationship between these variables. These results suggest that the adaptation of the spouse can have an indirect relationship on expatriate performance, via the expatriate’s adaptation. These findings support the idea that companies should invest in organizational support to facilitate a better fit of the expatriate and his spouse to the host country culture and to promote a higher individual performance.A adaptação de um expatriado é função de diversos fatores, e questões familiares têm sido apontadas como possíveis influenciadores nesse processo. Entretanto, pouco se sabe sobre o efeito existente do papel do cônjuge na adaptação do expatriado. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar a relação entre a adaptação de expatriados e seus cônjuges com o desempenho do expatriado. Trata-se de um estudo quantitativo, realizado com 217 casais com um dos cônjuges tendo ocupado a posição de expatriado. Os resultados não mostraram uma relação significante entre a adaptação do cônjuge e o desempenho do expatriado, mas revelaram que a adaptação do expatriado modera a relação entre essas variáveis. Esses resultados sugerem que a adaptação do cônjuge pode exercer uma influência indireta no desempenho do expatriado, via sua adaptação. Esses achados suportam a ideia de que deve-se investir em suporte organizacional para facilitar um melhor ajuste do expatriado e seu cônjuge à cultura do país de destino e promover um desempenho individual superior

The Adjustment of spouses and expatriates and its relationship with expatriate’s performance in international assignments

The adaptation of an expatriate is a function of several factors and family issues have been identified as potential influencers in the process. However, little is known about the effect of the existing role of the spouse in the adaptation of the expatriate. Thus, the objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the adjustment of expatriates and their spouses with the performance of the expatriate. It is a quantitative study with 217 couples in which one member of the couple occupied the expatriate position. The results showed no significant relationship between the adjustment of the spouse and the performance of the expatriate, but revealed that the adaptation of expatriate moderates the relationship between these variables. These results suggest that the adaptation of the spouse can have an indirect relationship on expatriate performance, via the expatriate’s adaptation. These findings support the idea that companies should invest in organizational support to facilitate a better fit of the expatriate and his spouse to the host country culture and to promote a higher individual performance