Self-initiated vs. organization-initiated Chinese expatriates: how social environment (social support) and spousal support influence psychological adjustment and work performance

Abstract

Purpose: This study examines how social environmental support and spousal support differentially influence psychological adjustment and work performance between self-initiated expatriates (SIE) and organization-initiated expatriates (OIE) among Chinese international professionals, advancing environmental psychology and social psychology through integration of self-determination theory with cross-cultural adaptation frameworks. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey design collected data from 520 Chinese expatriates across Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, and emerging markets. Structural equation modeling examined mediation and moderation relationships, while multi-group analysis compared adaptation mechanisms between expatriate types using bootstrap procedures for robust indirect effects estimation. Findings: Psychological adjustment serves as a crucial mediating mechanism linking environmental support to work performance. SIEs demonstrate stronger utilization of social environmental support (β = 0.48 vs. 0.29) and more efficient translation of psychological adaptation into performance outcomes (β = 0.59 vs. 0.44), while OIEs show greater reliance on spousal support (β = 0.41 vs. 0.26). Mediation analysis reveals partial mediation for social environmental support (58% indirect effect) and complete mediation for spousal support (61% indirect effect). Conclusion: The study validates differential person-environment interaction mechanisms between expatriate types, demonstrating that adaptation strategies vary according to motivational orientations and resource configurations underlying international mobility decisions. Practical Implications: Organizations should develop differentiated expatriate management strategies that enhance social environmental resource access for SIEs while strengthening family support systems for OIEs, recognizing the heterogeneous nature of international assignment experiences and the necessity for tailored intervention programs.