Examining the crossover effects of spousal and repatriate adjustment: a case study

In spite of the costs involved in international mobility of workers, firms seek to encourage the practice on the grounds that it is the main mechanism for knowledge transfer between its locations, thus helping the business to be more competitive. International workers' contribution to the firm depends on the degree to which they are able to adjust both during the expatriation and on their return home, that is to say, on their repatriation. Recent literature highlights the role of the family in the adjustment process of repatriated workers. However, there is a lack of research on this topic. This paper uses the crossover effects approach to analyse the relationship between spousal and repatriate adjustment.