Self-initiated expatriates in China: multicultural personality traits, frequency of interaction and host country nationals’ satisfaction with SIE performance

Abstract

Drawing from socioanalytic theory and intergroup contact hypothesis, this study investigates the relationship across self-initiated expatriates’ (SIEs’) multicultural personality traits and host country nationals’ (HCNs’) satisfaction with SIE performance in China. Findings based on dyadic matched data from 101 SIEs and HCN co-workers suggest that four of the multicultural personality traits (cultural empathy, flexibility, social initiative, emotional stability) are positively related to HCNs’ satisfaction with SIE performance. Only SIEs’ open-mindedness did not exert an influence on HCNs’ satisfaction with SIE performance. Furthermore, frequency of interaction between the SIE and their HCN co-worker moderated the relation between two of the multicultural personality traits (cultural empathy, emotional stability) and the outcome variable. Analyses imply that if frequency of interaction is low, cultural empathy and emotional stability exert a stronger influence on HCNs’ satisfaction with SIE performance. Our findings contribute to the existing literature by providing deeper insights into the dynamics of expatriate personality and working conditions and how they inform HCNs’ satisfaction with SIE performance.