Impact of Cultural Intelligence on Expatriates' Intention to Stay in the Host Country: The Mediating Role of Psychological Acculturation among Gen Z Expatriates in Taiwan

Abstract

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This research examines the relationship between cultural intelligence (CQ) and expatriates’ intention to stay in the host country, Taiwan, with psychological acculturation tested as a mediating variable. This study employed a cross-sectional design and utilized a questionnaire survey to collect data. Non-probability sampling methods were used to recruit participants, including convenience and snowball sampling. The study targeted Generation Z (Gen Z) expatriates in Taiwan, non-Taiwanese, aged 18–28 who have lived in Taiwan for over six months and are currently working full-time or part-time. A total of 215 valid responses were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, T-tests, ANOVA, hierarchical regression, and PROCESS Model 4 for mediation analysis. The results indicate that CQ significantly influences expatriates’ intention to stay in Taiwan, with psychological acculturation as a mediating factor. Overall, Gen Z expatriates in Taiwan reported relatively high levels of CQ, intention to stay, and moderately high levels of psychological acculturation. These findings suggest that, despite varying acculturation experiences, Gen Z expatriates can adapt to different cultures and express strong intentions to remain in Taiwan. This study contributes theoretically to the literature on cultural intelligence and psychological acculturation, particularly within Taiwan’s Gen Z expatriate context. Practically, the findings offer valuable insights for multinational organizations and human resource developers (HRDs) in Taiwan seeking to improve the retention of young international talents.