TITLE:
Relationships, Loneliness, and Life Satisfaction: Emotional Well-Being of Executive Expatriates during Midlife in Singapore
AUTHORS:
Leslie Hsu, Shilpi Tripathi
KEYWORDS:
Executive Expatriates, Midlife Transition, Emotional Well-Being, Marital Dissatisfaction, Parenting Stress, Loneliness and Isolation, Social Support, Coping Strategies, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), Expatriate Mental Health
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.13 No.9,
September
26,
2025
ABSTRACT: This paper explores the emotional well-being of executive expatriates navigating midlife transitions while managing personal and professional demands in a foreign environment. Drawing on qualitative data from in-depth interviews with fifteen mid-career expatriates in Singapore, the study investigates the impact of relationships, loneliness, and life satisfaction. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), it identifies recurring themes such as marital dissatisfaction, parenting pressures, emotional isolation, workplace stress, and adaptive coping strategies. Findings reveal a significant discrepancy between outward professional success and inner emotional struggle. While some participants highlighted the importance of cultivating strong social ties and non-human companionship to manage loneliness, others relied on introspection, resilience, or unhealthy coping mechanisms. The paper underscores the importance of intentional relationship-building, emotional safety in professional settings, and organizational support for expatriates’ mental health and relational needs during midlife. It calls for future research and policy innovation to foster holistic well-being in global professional populations.