Expatriates' families: A systematic literature review and research agenda

The influence of family on expatriates and their families' international assignments experience have been long discussed in various disciplines. We undertake a systematic review of 151 articles on expatriates' families published between 2006 and 2020 in peer-reviewed academic journals in Business and Management, Medicine, Psychology, and Decision Sciences. Adopting a step-wise approach to conduct the review and using Leximancer, we analyze the literature and categorize it into five major themes: family's influence on expatriates; expatriation's influence on expatriate families; family and individual adjustment in the expatriation process; organizational practices concerning family issues in expatriation; and expatriate families' social interaction. This mapping, thematizing and systematic organizing of the literature allows us to identify research areas that have been overpopulated and others that have not received sufficient scholarly attention. By doing so, this study contributes to the literature by providing a multidisciplinary perspective on the issue of expatriates' families. We also present a research agenda to advance knowledge in the field and make recommendations for practice. •The study systematically reviews the literature on expatriates’ families by analyzing 153 articles published from 2006 to 2020.•The literature is synthesized and categorized into five major themes: - family’s influence on expatriates - expatriation’s influence on expatriate family - family and individual adjustment in the expatriation process - organizational practices - social interaction.•A conceptual map of the literature, with expatriate family at the center, is proposed.•Avenues for future research on expatriates’ families and practical HRM implications are suggested.