Are you still one of us? When living abroad undermines perceived home country identification and trust from compatriots

Abstract

Rapid globalization has prompted many individuals to seek experiences abroad, with many eventually returning to their home country. The present research investigates how these returnees are perceived by their compatriots. Across four studies with U.S. and Chinese samples, we find that returnees' experiences of living abroad lead compatriots to perceive them as having lower home country identification, negatively affecting cognition-based trust in domestic contexts. We also find that signals of strong home country identification help mitigate these consequences, allowing returnees to achieve similar trust levels as non-returnees. These findings reveal how identification concerns can prevent returnees from leveraging their international experiences effectively, highlighting a critical challenge in global talent mobility. Our research provides insights into the challenges returnees face in domestic contexts and clarifies the complex relationship between living abroad, perceived home country identification, and trust.