4 typologies of an expat spouse
According to research, expat partners are either ready, reborn, resentful or resigned.
Global mobility offers many opportunities but settling into a new country and culture is often challenging for the partners of expatriates. Generally highly educated, many expat partners struggle with the loss of career identity if work permit restrictions mean they have to put their careers on hold. This often impacts on confidence, self-efficacy, and psychological well-being as their self-determination needs for autonomy, competence, and connection are at least temporarily unmet.
Research by McNulty & Moeller (2018) called A Typology of Dual-Career Expatriate (Trailing) Spouses: The ‘R’ Profile looked at the effects of expatriation on dual-career couples and divided expat partners into 4 categories or typologies.
Ready — these people know what they want and how to get it and are able to adapt quickly to their new situation. Experience and personality play a large role in how ready a person may be.
Reborn — these people have been through a tough transition and a period of resentment but have found a new path forward and are able to enjoy their time abroad to the fullest.
Resentful — this group has struggled to adjust, may have something of a victim mentality, and lacks agency in finding their way forward. They may feel angry towards their partners and their partner’s employer and frustrated over their stalled careers.
Resigned — this last group of people is resigned to their fate, has given up trying to find work or purpose, and has low expectations for the rest of their time overseas.
Clearly, the first two categories are the ones having the best time. They are proactive and positive and feel a strong sense of control over their own lives. Those who are reborn have been through some sort of transformation.
While everyone can benefit from coaching, the expat partners most primed for their own transformation are those in the “resentful” category. Coaching can help increase their sense of agency and remove the negative thought patterns and limiting beliefs that may be holding them back from finding new paths to success.
I’ve been there and can relate. Rebirth is not guaranteed, it takes work and self-belief. I believe support from a certified life coach can make all the difference.
