Based on transactional stress theory, Dr. Kraimer and her co-authors argue that international travel demands may have both positive and negative consequences for global employees. They identify three moderators to explain when international travel demands will positively relate to appraisals that global work is hindering versus challenging. Hindrance appraisals are proposed to positively relate to employee burnout and work-family conflict, whereas, challenge appraisals are proposed to positively relate to thriving and work-family enrichment. They tested the hypothesized conditional indirect effects between international travel demands and these outcomes with a matched sample global employees and their spouses. They found that international travel demands positively related to spouse ratings of burnout and work-family conflict. International travel demands positively related to employee thriving through challenge appraisals when employees experienced fewer nonwork disruption demands. These findings contribute to our understanding of how employees may react to international travel and to the transactional theory of stress by identifying moderators that impact challenge and hindrance appraisals.

Dr. Maria L. Kraimer is a professor of human resource management in the School of Management and Labor Relations at Rutgers University. She received her doctorate in human resources management from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her research addresses issues related to the challenges and consequences of working globally, predictors of career success, and the employee-employer relationship.