Ibasho and the adjustment, satisfaction, and well-being of expatriate spouses

Success of the expatriate spouse has been repeatedly identified as a key to overall expatriate assignment success. However, little is known about how to increase the expatriate spouses’ adjustment to an overseas assignment. This study examines this problem from an occupational health viewpoint, looking at the relationships of stress with various outcomes related to success: satisfaction, adjustment, and well-being. In addition, the current study tests the effects of social support and a new construct, Ibasho, briefly defined as a sense of comfort and psychological security that a person feels in specific locations they regularly visit, as moderators of stressor–outcome relationships. Results suggest that stress is highly related to all outcomes measured. In addition, initial support for the independence and importance of the construct of Ibasho is established. Ibasho showed significant bivariate relationships with all of the measured variables. In addition, Ibasho accounted for unique variance in the prediction of general adjustment, personal adjustment, satisfaction, and depression above and beyond demographic control variables and social support. Finally, Ibasho interacted with stressors in order to significantly predict perceived stress.