Self-Initiated Expatriate Adjustment in Saudi Universities: The Role of Previous Experience and Marital Status
Hammad Alshammari

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of previous experience and marital status on the adjustment of self-initiated expatriates in Saudi universities. The assumptions of Black et al. (1991) model of adjustment was addressed to help self-initiated expatriates to adjust. It was hypothesized that previous experience and marital status have no influence on self-initiated expatriates’ culture, interaction and work adjustment. This study was quantitative in nature and employed a descriptive correlational research design. The sample of this study included 237 self-initiated expatriates from two public universities in Saudi Arabia. Findings indicated that previous experience has no relationship with self-initiated expatriates’ culture, interaction and work adjustment. Further analysis also revealed that marital status has no influence in term of self-initiated expatriates’ socio-cultural adjustment. The implications of these findings are discussed for practice.

Full Text: PDF