Model of cross-cultural adjustment and view of life-career among Japanese expatriate spouses in India

Abstract

In the globalized economy, it is necessary to consider expatriates’ cross-cultural adjustment, which is affected by their spouses, whose cross-cultural adjustment should not be neglected. We examined a model of cross-cultural adjustment among Japanese spouses in India. We hypothesized that demands (e.g., cultural differences, language immaturity) and resources (e.g., spouse’s personality/agreeableness, perceived social support) negatively and positively affect cross-cultural adjustment, respectively. In turn, cross-cultural adjustment positively affects subjective happiness and intent to stay. In addition, cross-cultural adjustment consists a part of life-career perspective for expatriate spouses who quit their job when go to abroad. To examine the hypotheses, we use a mixed methods approach (QUAN→QUAL) that uses multiple variables and sampling to collect quantitative and qualitative data over two phases sequentially. First, from August to October 2018, a survey using a web-based questionnaire was conducted in four areas in India: New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru. Responses from 105 participants, who are parents of Japanese school children or members of a parenting support group were received. Second, from October to December 2018, the interview data for 17 participants were collected at Bengaluru. To confirm the hypothesized model, we tested a structural equations modeling (SEM) analysis. Additionally, the interview transcript data were analyzed with a modified version of the Grounded Theory approach (M-GTA). The Results demonstrated that Japanese expatriate spouses who had difficulties in communicating in English and felt large cultural differences, decreased their adjustment, their subjective happiness was lowered, and they wanted to return to their home country early. However, the more the personality was cooperative and compassionate, and the more they worked to adjust to their international life; their subjective happiness increased. Additionally, expatriate spouses obtained the concept of view of life-career. The view of life-career included cross-cultural adjustment. Cross-cultural adjustment affects positive view of life-career that will lead to smooth re-employment after returning to Japan.