Host country national quality of interaction with expatriates: antecedents, process, and outcome

Little research examines host country national (HCN)-expatriate interaction from the HCN’s perspective. Our study contributes to theory and practice by introducing the concept of ‘HCN-expatriate interaction quality’, one that has received little attention in the literature. Drawing on the Intergroup Contact Theory, we examine the mediating role of HCN-expatriate interaction quality between the HCN’s on-the-job interaction with and support to the expatriate, as well as two moderating effects: off-the-job interaction with the expatriate and perceived expatriate receptivity towards support. Further, we examine how different types of the HCN’s prior international experiences enhance interaction quality with and support to the expatriate. Using a multi-wave design of HCNs in Taiwan, we find support for most of our hypotheses.