2026 Volume 24 Issue 1 Pages 61-73
In this study, we used a modified Grounded Theory Approach (M-GTA) to clarify the cross-cultural experiences of six Japanese female partners who had experienced overseas life for the first time by accompanying expatriates. Two core categories were extracted from the interviews: “My limited society” and “My relaxed authentic self.” The partners were socially disconnected from their communities in Japan and had unstable relationships within expatriate communities. The findings showed Japanese women’s process of reconstructing one’s authentic self through repeated experiences of survival and self-acceptance in cross-cultural life while facing loneliness, a sense of disconnection from local culture, and conflicts between their identity before and during their cross-cultural experience. This process was understood as one of meaning-making, involving the development of self-efficacy and interactions with a different culture. Rather than viewing cross-cultural adaptation as a temporary challenge, it is desirable to understand it as a significant experience that fosters personal growth. These findings contribute to our understanding of the psychological and social changes partners of expatriates face and indicate the need for a support system that considers their long-term adjustment processes.
