“I feel that I have given up my real self and become less of a person” is just one of many poignant expat partner quotes in Yvonne McNulty’s new research report.
Four-year study
The report is titled ‘Being dumped in to sink or swim: an empirical study of organizational support for the trailing spouse’ (September 2012). This latest work by the leading international mobility researcher reveals that a lack of professional and social support leaves many expat partners struggling. The four-year study of 264 trailing spouses in 54 host locations aimed to identify key issues related to the organisational support provided to trailing spouses during expatriation and how important that support is perceived to be.
Organisational support disappoints spouses
McNulty found that professional support (to address the dual-career issue) and social support (to alleviate marital stress) were perceived by trailing spouses as having the greatest impact on identity re-construction and, in turn, their adjustment. However, both types of support were lacking. “On the whole, findings in our study point to a level of overall organizational support that continues to disappoint trailing spouses, with a strong belief that MNCs are not genuinely interested in their welfare,” she says. The need to address intrinsic adjustment, and assist in the development of a meaningful portable identity, emerged as major findings, according to McNulty.
