Managing Stress in the Expatriate Family: A Case Study of the State Department of the United States of America

Abstract

We identified international relocation as a source of stress for the expatriate family as it generates uncertainty, reduces control and increases ambiguity. We then described the initiatives taken by the State Department of the United States of America to reduce the stress that the family feels when relocating to a foreign assignment. Each initiative is discussed in terms of its potential to reduce uncertainty, increase control and reduce ambiguity. We concluded that the State Department provides a comprehensive set of initiatives which can help to reduce stress in the foreign-service family.