Expatriation, alcohol and drugs : antecedents and consequences of substance use in expatriation

Abstract

Purpose – Expatriation is known to be stressful. The present study examines stress as an antecedent of substance use during expatriation and related effects on expatriates' work adjustment. Moreover, the study sheds light on individual-level moderators (i.e. gender and prior international experience) and organizational-level moderators (i.e. organizational social support) that might condition the stress substance use link. Design/methodology/approach - This work adopts a quantitative survey approach. It is based on two studies, one of 205 expatriates and one of 96 expatriate–supervisor dyads. The data were collected through personal networks and with the help of multinational companies. Findings - This research shows that stress at a medium to high-level increases substance use among male expatriates, but not among female expatriates. Expatriates with substantial prior international experience were identified as being more prone to react to stress by resorting to substance use. It also provides evidence that substance use to aid coping harms professional adjustment. Moreover, some implications relating to professional adjustment are discussed. Research limitations/implications - Substance use was self-reported; this may have deterred users from accurately reporting their consumption levels. Moreover, convenience samples have been used. Preventive actions limiting substance use, such as well-being programs, could be sponsored by local human resources managers in order to limit this phenomenon. Originality/value - This work is one of the first to analyze substance use among expatriates. It shows that some expatriates are more at risk than others of resorting to such use to cope with the hardships of expatriation.