TY - JOUR

T1 - The positive effects of a protean career attitude for self-initiated expatriates

T2 - Cultural adjustment as a mediator

AU - Cao, Lan

AU - Hirschi, Andreas

AU - Deller, Jürgen

PY - 2013/2/1

Y1 - 2013/2/1

N2 - Purpose – The authors sought to explain why and how protean career attitude might influence self-initiated expatriates’ (SIEs) experiences positively. A mediation model of cultural adjustment was proposed and empirically evaluated.Design/methodology/approach – Data from 132 SIEs in Germany containing measures of protean career attitude, cultural adjustment, career satisfaction, life satisfaction, and intention to stay in the host country were analysed using path analysis with a bootstrap method.Findings – Empirical results provide support for the authors’ proposed model: the positive relations between protean career attitude and the three expatriation outcomes (career satisfaction, life satisfaction and intention to stay in the host country) were mediated by positive cross-cultural adjustment of SIEs.Research limitations/implications – All data were cross-sectional from a single source. The sample size was small and included a large portion of Chinese participants. The study should be replicated with samples in other destination countries, and longitudinal research is suggested.Practical implications – By fostering both a protean career attitude in skilled SIE employees and their cultural adjustment, corporations and receiving countries could be able to retain this international workforce better in times of talent shortage.Originality/value – This study contributes to the scarce research on the conceptual relatedness of protean career attitude and SIEs, as well as to acknowledging the cultural diversity of the SIE population.

AB - Purpose – The authors sought to explain why and how protean career attitude might influence self-initiated expatriates’ (SIEs) experiences positively. A mediation model of cultural adjustment was proposed and empirically evaluated.Design/methodology/approach – Data from 132 SIEs in Germany containing measures of protean career attitude, cultural adjustment, career satisfaction, life satisfaction, and intention to stay in the host country were analysed using path analysis with a bootstrap method.Findings – Empirical results provide support for the authors’ proposed model: the positive relations between protean career attitude and the three expatriation outcomes (career satisfaction, life satisfaction and intention to stay in the host country) were mediated by positive cross-cultural adjustment of SIEs.Research limitations/implications – All data were cross-sectional from a single source. The sample size was small and included a large portion of Chinese participants. The study should be replicated with samples in other destination countries, and longitudinal research is suggested.Practical implications – By fostering both a protean career attitude in skilled SIE employees and their cultural adjustment, corporations and receiving countries could be able to retain this international workforce better in times of talent shortage.Originality/value – This study contributes to the scarce research on the conceptual relatedness of protean career attitude and SIEs, as well as to acknowledging the cultural diversity of the SIE population.

KW - Management studies

KW - Self-initiated expatriation, protean career, cultural adjustment, career satisfaction, intention to stay, international mobility, cultural distance, expatriates

KW - Career satisfaction

KW - Cultural adjustment

KW - Cultural distance

KW - Expatriates

KW - Intention to stay

KW - International mobility

KW - Protean career

KW - Self-initiated expatriation

KW - Business psychology

KW - Self-initiated expatriation, protean career, cultural adjustment, career satisfaction, intention to stay, international mobility, cultural distance, expatriates

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84874129646&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1108/13620431311305953

DO - 10.1108/13620431311305953

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 18

SP - 56

EP - 77

JO - Career Development International

JF - Career Development International

SN - 1362-0436

IS - 1

ER -