Gao, L; Luo, X; Yang, W; Zhang, N and Deng, X (2023) Relationship between social support and repatriation intention of expatriates in international construction projects. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 30(8), pp. 3292-3309. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: This paper aims to explore the influence of social support and the repatriation intention of expatriates in international constructions in the postpandemic era of COVID-19. Furthermore, test the mediation effect of team climate and individual resilience in this relationship. Design/methodology/approach: A survey of 347 expatriates in international construction projects was conducted. A cross-level chain mediation model was employed to test the moderating effect of social support and repatriation intention. Then, statistical analysis with a bootstrap sample was used to test the mediation effect of the model. Findings: The empirical results support that team climate, individual resilience and the chain mediating effect of team climate to individual resilience is significant among the influences of social support on repatriation intention. Social support can enhance the team climate of construction expatriates, promoting their resilience to reduce the repatriation intention further. Practical implications: This study provides guidelines for international construction enterprises and managers to decide when and which expatriates should return home and formulate a series of policies to support expatriates and maintain a good team climate. Originality/value: This study contributes to expatriate management literature by establishing the relationship between social support and repatriation intention. It provides a better understanding of how team-level factors impact individual thought. It takes team climate as one of the protective factors affecting individual psychological resilience. Also it takes social support as the antecedents of team atmosphere in case of emergencies.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | expatriates; individual resilience; repatriation intention; social support; team climate |
| Index terms: | statistical analysis, international construction, survey, mediation, manager, COVID-19, international construction project, methodology |
| Subjects: | research methods, health risk and incident analysis, data science, strategic management, data collection methods, practitioner, dispute resolution |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Health and Safety, Roles and Professions, International Construction, Legal Issues |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here