Stressors and job burnout of Chinese expatriate construction professionals
Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
ISSN: 0969-9988
Article publication date: 21 August 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Besides ensuring traditional project objectives, expatriate construction professionals (EXCPs) working on international projects face challenges adapting to unfamiliar environments with varying construction standards, work practices and cultural values. This puts them at a high risk of job burnout. Thus, this study aims to investigate the antecedents and outcomes of EXCPs' job burnout in the international construction industry.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the Job demands-resource model (JD-R), a theoretical framework was developed. Industry-specific stressors and expatriate management practices were identified using a literature review and interviews. The authors then used a questionnaire survey to collect data from Chinese EXCPs. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were then utilized to test hypotheses.
Findings
The findings indicate that early-career EXCPs experience the most severe levels of job burnout. The paths analysis proved the direct and indirect mitigating effects of expatriate management practices on job burnout, and EXCP's job burnout was associated with poor job performance and decreased intention to stay in the international assignment.
Originality/value
While prior research has explored job burnout among construction professionals working on domestic projects, little attention has been given to EXCPs and their unique challenges. This study aims to fill this critical gap in the literature by offering a unique perspective on the antecedents and outcomes of job burnout among EXCPs in international contexts and presents a significant contribution to understanding and addressing occupational health issues faced by EXCPs.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study received financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 72001225, 72071120, 72134002), the Institute for Guo Qiang Tsinghua University, the Youth Talents Training Support Program of the Central University of Finance and Economics (Grant No. QYP2208), and the Program for Innovation Research in the Central University of Finance and Economics.
Citation
Abdalla, A., Li, X. and Yang, F. (2023), "Stressors and job burnout of Chinese expatriate construction professionals", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-03-2023-0237
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited