Spouses and families of expatriates: A systematic literature review by correspondence analysis based on semantic segments

Spouses and families of expatriates have been identified as a major issue in expatriation, and the literature thereon has augmented in recent years. Applying correspondence analysis, this article aims to provide a systematic visualization of the development of the research topic and reveals key tendencies of research over time. By using correspondence analysis software, a textual analysis of abstracts from 132 academic journals in English that focus on the couple/family before, during and after expatriation is performed. Through the semantic structuring of the topic, the development of the research along two major axes can be demonstrated: the evolution from home-country to host-country issues and the nonlinear shift from an expatriate-centered perspective to a dual-career and expatriate-family perspective. Based on the historical advancements of the field, key trends for future research are anticipated and identified. Among other trends, studies on the long-term impact of expatriation, studies on non-traditional families and partners/families of specific self-initiated expatriates are discussed.