ATCKs as expatriates: Turnover intention and adjustment examined

Purpose: Adult third-culture kids (ATCKs), or adults who were living abroad in expatriated families during childhood, have been theorised to possess resources to meet the increased stressors and demands of overseas assignments due to their higher cross-cultural competency, adjustment, and security in risk-taking. This research sought to compare the turnover intention of ATCKs with that of adults with mono-cultural backgrounds, in expatriate roles, and to see whether this experience provides incremental predictive validity for turnover intention over and above demographic and adjustment factors.Design: This research used a quantitative, cross-sectional design implemented through an online questionnaire (n = 206).Findings: Results reported that ATCKs showed significantly higher levels of turnover intention than those with mono-cultural backgrounds. Furthermore, this background predicted an additional 3.3% of variance in turnover intentions above that of various adjustment indices.Originality: This research provides initial evidence to dispute the claim that adults who are expatriated in childhood are more likely to be retained in traditional expatriate work and suggests future research to investigate leveraging ATCK skills in alternative expatriate contexts.Practical implications: These results may allow international organisations to better understand the potential benefits of ATCK employment as expatriates and their role in a global environment in need of increased retention and mobility.

Socio-cultural Adjustment and Well-being in Third Culture Kids and their Families: Protocol for a Longitudinal Study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Increasing globalization has led to more families with children being relocated each year, high-lighting the importance of issues such as acculturation, adjustment, and psychological well-being in this population. These children, commonly known as Third Culture Kids (TCKs), often spend a significant part of their developmental years in cultures foreign to them. OBJECTIVE Our longitudinal study aims to examine the roles of cognitive, psychological, socio-cultural, and family factors on the longitudinal trajectories of TCKs and their families’ well-being and socio-cultural adjustment over time. METHODS This study adopts both quantitative and qualitative procedures. Data from both procedures will be collected at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. We aim to recruit 150-200 participants between 7 and 17 years old and one of their primary caregivers. After providing informed consent, participants will complete an online survey. Outcome measures include validated questionnaires on well-being and socio-cultural adjustment. Predictor measures include validated questionnaires on negative self-thoughts, emotion regulation, resilience, psychological attributes, self-esteem, stress, acculturative stress, cultural intelligence, couple satisfaction, and family functioning. A multiple regression model will be used to analyze the quantitative data. In addition, 15-20 families who participated in the online survey will be randomly selected to take part in a family interview focusing on questions related to well-being, relocation experiences, cultural issues, and challenges. A concurrent triangulation mixed-method design will be used to analyze and interpret data from both quantitative and qualitative methods. RESULTS To date, a total of 131 participants and 120 parents have completed the baseline online survey. In addition, 28 children and 24 parents have completed the one-year follow-up online survey. A total of 6 families have completed the baseline family interview while 2 families have completed the one-year follow-up interview. Transcription of the interview is on-going. CONCLUSIONS Findings from this study would enable us to understand the adjustment processes, and risk and protective factors associated with TCKs and their families’ well-being and socio-cultural ad-justment in Switzerland, which could have implications on the development of intervention pro-grams for individuals and families to address acculturation and adjustment issues. CLINICALTRIAL Not Applicable