Factors influencing expatriates’ adjustment in Estonia and Lithuania

This study draws upon the person-environment (P-E) fit model and the literature on expatriate adjustment to reveal the expatriate adjustment factors in Estonia and Lithuania—two countries that are usually known as expatriate-sending countries. A total of 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted with expatriates in our two case study countries, Estonia and Lithuania. We explored work-related and non-work-related environmental supply and demand of expatriate adjustment. Also, we studied the personal characteristics of expatriate adjustment. The results indicate that the interviewed expatriates felt well-adjusted to their host countries. However, the environmental supply required further development to fulfil expatriates’ needs in the studied countries. This study expands the scope and relevance of the adjustment of expatriates in countries usually known as expatriate-sending countries. Additionally, this research extends the use of the P-E fit model in the adjustment context by advancing our knowledge of the interplay between environmental supply and demand.