“Navigating between Worlds: Understanding the Mental Health Dynamics of Corporate Expatriates in Multicultural Environments in Singapore”: A Qualitative Study
The
journey of human development is a continuous process that spans from infancy to
old age, with adulthood presenting unique developmental challenges and
opportunities. Central to this stage is the role of work, which significantly
impacts the quality of life. The workplace serves as a crucible for personal
growth, social interactions, and identity formation. The concept of a midlife
crisis, a period of intense introspection and lifestyle change typically
occurring between ages 40 and 60, is a critical aspect of adult development.
Objective: This study aims to explore the specific experiences of mid-level
executive expatriates in Singapore, focusing on their identity, sense of
belonging, and mental well-being. It seeks to understand how the multicultural
work environment in Singapore affects these expatriates’ identities and mental
health, particularly during the midlife phase, which is characterized by career
reassessment and personal transitions. Methodology: The research employs
interpretative phenomenological analysis to deeply understand the participants’
experiences. This qualitative approach involves conducting semi-structured in-depth
interviews with 12 middle-aged executive expatriates in Singapore. The
methodology is designed to capture rich, personal narratives that reveal how
these individuals navigate their unique challenges. Conclusion: The study
reveals significant insights into the intertwining of career and personal
identity among mid-level executive expatriates, highlighting the critical role
of relationships in their happiness and well-being. It also sheds light on the
strategies these individuals employ for future planning and coping with midlife
transitions. The findings contribute valuable perspectives on the mental health
challenges and adaptation strategies of expatriates in multicultural
environments, emphasizing the complex interplay between work, identity, and
well-being in the context of midlife development.
References
[1]
Adams, B. G., & van de Vijver, F. J. R. (2015). The Many Faces of Expatriate Identity. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 49, 322-331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2015.05.009
[2]
Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The Need to Belong: Desire for Interpersonal Attachments as a Fundamental Human Motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117, 497-529. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.117.3.497
[3]
Berger, K. S. (2014). The Developing Person through the Life Span (2nd ed.). Worth Publishers.
[4]
Berry, J. W. (2005). Acculturation: Living Successfully in Two Cultures. International Journal of Intercultural relations, 29, 697-712. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2005.07.013
[5]
Bikos, L. H., Dykhouse, E. C., Boutin, S. K., Gowen, M. J., & Rodney, H. E. (2013). Practice and Research in Career Counseling and Development—2012. The Career Development Quarterly, 61, 290-329. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0045.2013.00058.x
[6]
Blanchflower, D. G., & Graham, C. (2021). The Mid-Life Dip in Well-Being: A Critique. Social Indicators Research, 161, 287-344. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-021-02773-w
[7]
Brocki, J. M., & Wearden, A. J. (2006). A Critical Evaluation of the Use of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) in Health Psychology. Psychology and Health, 21, 87-108. https://doi.org/10.1080/14768320500230185
[8]
Bushong, L. J. (2013). Belonging Everywhere & Nowhere: Insights into Counseling the Globally Mobile. Mango Tree Intercultural Services.
[9]
Case, A., & Deaton, A. (2015). Rising Morbidity and Mortality in Midlife among White Non-Hispanic Americans in the 21st Century. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 112, 15078-15083. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1518393112
[10]
Cigna (2022). Cigna 360 Global Well-Being Survey 2022. https://www.cignaglobal.com/360-global-well-being/expat-life-2022
[11]
EGN Singapore (2022). Successful But Lonely at the Top. EGN Singapore.
[12]
Filipic Sterle, M., Vervoort, T., & Verhofstadt, L. L. (2018). Social Support, Adjustment, and Psychological Distress of Help-Seeking Expatriates. Psychologica Belgica, 58, 297-317. https://doi.org/10.5334/pb.464
[13]
Fisher, G. G., Stachowski, A., Infurna, F. J., Grosch, J., Faul, J. D., & Tetrick, L. E. (2014). Mental Work Demands, Retirement, and Longitudinal Trajectories of Cognitive Functioning. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 19, 231-242. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035724
[14]
Fong, C. (2020). Impact on Growing Diversity & Multi-Cultural Counseling at Workplace in Singapore: A Review. Journal of Psychology & Psychotherapy, 10, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.35248/2161-0487.20.10.369
[15]
Fong, C., & Tripathi, S. (2021). Multicultural Workplace Counselling and the Impact of Wealth, Health, Ability and Time (WHAT) on Mental Health under COVID-19 Pandemic. Psychology, 12, 1743-1755. https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2021.1211105
[16]
Frankl, V. E. (1985). Man’s Search for Meaning. Beacon Press.
[17]
Jaques, E. (1965). Death and the Mid-Life Crisis. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, XLVI, 502-514.
[18]
Kang, M. (2020). It’s Lonely at the Top: The Workplace Isolation People Don’t Talk about, People Matters, 7 April. https://www.peoplemattersglobal.com/article/employee-engagement/itslonely-at-the-top-the-workplace-isolation-people-dont-talk-about-25254
[19]
Lachman, M. E. (2001). Handbook of Midlife Development. John Wiley & Sons.
[20]
Lachman, M. E. (2004). Development in Midlife. Annual Review of Psychology, 55, 305-331. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.55.090902.141521
[21]
Lachman, M. E. (2015). Mind the Gap in the Middle: A Call to Study Midlife. Research in Human Development, 12, 327-334. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427609.2015.1068048
[22]
Lachman, M. E., Lewkowiez, C., Marcus, A., & Peng, Y. (1994). Images of Midlife Development among Youth, Middle-Aged and Older Adults. Journal of Adult Development, 1, 201-211. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02277581
[23]
Lazarova, M., McNulty, Y., & Semeniuk, M. (2015). Expatriate Family Narratives on International Mobility: Key Characteristics of the Successful Mobility Family. In V. Suutari, & L. Makela (Eds.), Work and Family Interface in the International Career Context (pp. 29-52). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17647-5_3
[24]
Levinson, D. J., Darrow, C. N., Klein, E. B., Levinson, M. H., & McKee, B. (1978). The Seasons of a Man’s Life. Ballantine Books.
[25]
Mao, J., & Shen, Y. (2015). Cultural Identify Change in Expatriates: A Social Network Perspective. Human Relations, 68, 1533-1556. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726714561699
[26]
Moore, A. M., & Barker, G. G. (2012). Confused or Multicultural: Third Culture Individuals’ Cultural Identify. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 36, 553-562. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2011.11.002
[27]
OpenAI (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 Version) [Large Language Model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
[28]
Richardson, J. (1996). Handbook of Qualitative Research Methods of Psychology and the Social Sciences. BPS Books.
[29]
Silbiger, A., & Pines, A. M. (2014). Expatriate Stress and Burnout. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 25, 1170-1183. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2013.824911
[30]
Smith, J. (2003). Qualitative Psychology: A Practical Guide to Research Methods. SAGE.
[31]
Smith, J. A., & Osborn, M. (2008). Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. In J. A. Smith (Ed.), Analysing Qualitative Data in Psychology (pp. 53-80). SAGE. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446207536.d10
[32]
Takeuchi, R. (2010). A Critical Review of Expatriate Adjustment Research through a Multiple Stakeholder View: Progress Emerging Trends, and Prospects. Journal of Management, 36, 1040-1064. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206309349308