Nordic expatriates in the US: The relationship between cultural intelligence and adjustment

This study investigates the relationship between the four factors of cultural intelligence (meta-cognitive, cognitive, motivation, and behavior) and the dimensions of cross-cultural adjustment (general, interaction, and work). The sample consists of 178 Nordic (Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Swedish) expatriates working and living in the US. The findings of this study reveal that cultural intelligence is an important factor that facilitates cross-cultural adjustment for Nordic expatriates. Also, the results indicate that a greater general adjustment is related to greater meta-cognitive and motivational cultural intelligence. Increased levels of interaction adjustment are associated with greater meta-cognitive and motivational cultural intelligence. And lastly, greater work adjustment is related to greater meta-cognitive cultural intelligence. This study further provides a contribution to the body of knowledge in the cross-cultural field for Nordic expatriates, as well as having practical and theoretical implications.