Accessing social support while working abroad: An examination of sources and types of social support

Upon arrival expatriates need to establish new social ties to access crucial social support. Building on information seeking theory, we have created a model connecting specific characteristics of network members (host country knowledge, employment status, and host country origin) with the type and amount of support they provide (informational and emotional support). This provides more precise knowledge of which support provider is accessed for which type of support than simply using the label ‘host country national’. Our study sheds light on the process of social network formation and improves existing research methods of how expatriates gain social support.