Psychophysiological reactions to international adjustment - Results from acontrolled, longitudinal study

Background:This controlled prospective study examines psychophysiological r eactions in employees during their first and second year abroad to identify individual as well as work-related factors predictive of positive adjustme nt. Methods: Employees (n = 47) relocating from Sweden to a foreign country on a work-related assignment were followed. The subjects completed a quest ionnaire before relocation and after 1 and 2 yea rs abroad. Blood samples w ere collected for determination of the stressor-related hormones prolactin, cortisol and testosterone. A matched non-moving reference group of employe es (n = 35) responded to the questionnaire at similar time periods, and als o provided blood samples. Results: During the years abroad, the expatriate employees experienced increased psychosocial stress as well as negative adj ustment as reflected in circulating levels of prolactin and testosterone, w orse mental well-being and worsening subjective work environment, as compar ed with the non-moving group. The greatest change occurred during the first year, individual factors such as social support, internal locus of control , self-esteem and sense of coherence modified the stress response and predi cted employees' ability to adjust to foreign assignments. Negative changes in the psychosocial work environment explained to a large degree the decrea se in work adjustment during the first year and these findings were also re flected in physiological stress indicators. Conclusions: The study emphasis es the importance for multinational organisations to look at these individu al characteristics before sending employees abroad. They also need to get m ore involved in supporting employees to manage stressors characteristic of the first year of foreign work.