Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:40:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Adriana Alvarenga Madia de Souza.pdf: 957057 bytes, checksum: 9f17d02fbf5749655bafb0e14af9e0ea (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-11-06 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Annually the number of executives that are sent with their spouses or families in an international relocation is growing. The studies try, once knowing the key variables involved in the adjustment process, to make the companies get higher levels of success in expatriations. The trailing spouses, as they are known, deeply feel the expatriation demands on their careers and on their couple relations. The present study look at the many challenges and problems faced, by these individuals, that leave their families, friends and normally, even their careers. The three case studies show that the personal resources specially the personality traits, the social abilities, and the will and determination are the strongest predictors of a good adjustment. The analysis of the relates shows that the marital resources, as free communication between the members of the couple, the concern about the other s feelings and the good time spent together are also strong indicators of a good adjustment, especially in distant cultures / O número de executivos expatriados com seus cônjuges ou famílias vem crescendo anualmente com a globalização. Os estudos do tema buscam garantir que, a partir do conhecimento das variáveis-chaves envolvidas no processo de ajustamento, as empresas atinjam maiores níveis de sucesso nas expatriações. Os cônjuges que acompanham os executivos expatriados, conhecidos como trailing spouses, vivenciam fortemente as demandas que a transferência internacional apresenta às suas carreiras e às suas relações conjugais. O presente estudo qualitativo, foca nos diversos desafios e problemas enfrentados, e nas formas e estratégias de enfrentamento, por esses indivíduos, que deixam seus familiares, seus amigos, e normalmente, até sua carreira. São três estudos de caso, escolhidos entre algumas entrevistas, que mostraram que os recursos individuais, como as características de personalidade, as habilidades sociais e a determinação são as principais condições de um bom ajustamento. A análise dos relatos também mostra que os recursos conjugais como comunicação livre entre os membros do casal, preocupação com os sentimentos do outro e apreciar o tempo passados juntos também são fortes indicadores de ajustamento, especialmente em culturas mais distantes

The primary emphasis in the field of expatriate adjustment has focused on the experiences of the person working overseas on assignment. Research that includes the experiences of the accompanying partner of the working expatriate frequently positions this person as an antecedent to the working partner's adjustment process. Understanding the adjustment process from the accompanying partner's perspective is underrepresented in the literature. In this qualitative research project eight expatriate couples were interviewed to examine in detail their experiences of adjusting overseas on assignment in order to identify the critical adjustment factors, the resources that are available to assist the adjustment process, and what personal characteristics aid a successful intercultural experience while living overseas. Recommendations are provided for both the employer and the accompanying partner to assist the adjustment process.