How do you fear? Examining expatriates’ perceptions of danger and its consequences

Purpose: This study investigates the differing perceptions of fear of expatriates operating in terror-exposed Nairobi and the high-crime environment of Johannesburg and its impact on stress and wellbeing. It illustrates how expatriates cope with the challenges associated with these two regions. Design, methodology, approach: Following an interpretative and inductive research approach, qualitative content analyses were conducted using evidence from in-depth interviews with twelve expatriates in senior management or officer positions within a large global organisation, with respondents based in South Africa and Kenya. Findings: Data suggest that expatriates in the more terrorism exposed context perceive fear less strongly than expatriates in environments categorised by high degrees of conventional crime. Fear seems to relate to physical wellbeing via restricted freedom of movement, but there is little evidence that fear affects mental wellbeing. The study finds that respondents in terror-exposed Nairobi tend to engage more in avoidance-oriented coping strategies, whereas their counterparts in the high-crime environment of Johannesburg predominantly rely on problemfocused coping. Originality, value: This study develops a distinction between terror and conventional crime and contributes with practical insights for assignments into dangerous work environments. The geographic lens of the study provides an in-depth look at expatriation challenges in an arguably neglected regional context. Practical implications: The qualitative design allows practitioners to better understand expatriates’ perceptions of fear, its consequences for stress and wellbeing and potential coping strategies expatriates employ. It discusses a set of practical recommendations focussing on the deployment of expatriates assigned to dangerous locations.