Expats are stressed out, but they may also cope better with burnout

I moved to Singapore in 2024 from the United States.

Courtesy of Shaw Ernestine

Picking yourself up and moving to work overseas isn’t easy, but it can also be very rewarding.

As someone who recently moved to Singapore from the US, I’ll start by saying that while the opportunity to do so is a privilege, it also comes with its own set of unique challenges.

Being on a 16-hour flight away from your closest family is daunting, but the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in a new culture and have time to focus on yourself is priceless.

“Global migrants – individuals who live and work overseas – are an increasingly important component of the labor force in most markets,” Cigna Healthcare Vitality Study Released in April 2024.

“We are also seeing growing interest in this lifestyle, with almost a third (30%) of those still living in their home country saying they are likely to live overseas,” the research said.

The study surveyed more than 10,000 people, including more than 2,600 globally mobile individuals from 12 markets: United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Kenya, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Mainland China, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Who are the global mobile population today?

Globally mobile individuals tend to exhibit above-average vitality scores (71.7 out of 100), compared with 66.7 for those living in domestic markets.

Globally mobile employees often experience a sense of physical and mental health, competence, energy, and a strong sense of meaning and purpose.

Wendy Shirley

Chief Executive Officer, Global Health Benefits, Cigna Healthcare International Health Division

The vitality scores used in this study were based on Evernorth Vitality IndexIt provides a measure of “people’s ability to pursue health, strength and energy,” the report said.

The survey asked questions to measure respondents’ sense of physical, mental, emotional, environmental, social, occupational, financial and intellectual well-being.

Additionally, according to the study, this group’s mental health is better than their local counterparts (58% have good or very good mental health and 42% have good mental health).

“Globally mobile workers typically have higher levels of vitality—a mental and physical feeling of being healthy, capable, and energized—as well as a strong A sense of meaning and purpose.

“All aspects of our lives – including social, professional and financial – are interconnected,” she added.

This is evident from the fact that this group is 10% more likely to feel that they can form strong connections with others. Additionally, global migrants are more likely to be engaged, energetic and enthusiastic at work than locals, the report said.

Despite having more energy, this group also experienced higher levels of stress (86%) and especially higher levels of burnout (96%) than natives.

“On the other hand, expats may experience social isolation, which can exacerbate emotional difficulties, exacerbate stress, and increase the likelihood of burnout,” Shirley said.

Additionally, according to research, this group of people is particularly likely to experience “feelings of alienation or loneliness, self-doubt, and negative attitudes.” Notably, these feelings are more pronounced in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

“In Asia, stress levels were at 89% in Singapore and 91% in Hong Kong. In the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, stress levels reached 90% and Kenya at 94%. In contrast, in Europe, especially Spain and the Netherlands, stress levels studied showed that the proportions were relatively low, 79% and 67% respectively.

Here are the biggest challenges faced by people living and working abroad:

Financial challenges (38%)
homesick(23%)
Difficulty maintaining work/life balance (18%)
Health issues such as difficulty accessing health care (18%)
Difficulty finding housing (17%)

Expats in Asia, particularly those in Hong Kong (22%) and mainland China (24%), are more likely to experience work-related challenges. Hong Kong respondents (40%) also said they need more help with local healthcare compared with about 28% of respondents in other regions.

Seemingly out of touch?

So why do global migrants have higher vitality scores despite experiencing higher levels of stress and burnout than their local counterparts?

Globally mobile workers become an extremely valuable and resilient part of the workforce. Despite facing unique stressors related to their circumstances, they demonstrate unique skills and high levels of motivation, resulting in higher levels of energy.

Cigna Healthcare Vitality Study 2024

Research suggests this may be due in part to the group’s tendency toward adaptability and resilience.

“Globally mobile workers emerge as an extremely valuable and resilient segment of the workforce. Despite facing unique pressures related to their circumstances, they demonstrate unique skills and are highly motivated, resulting in higher levels of vitality,” the report states.

Although this group tends to show greater resilience, the stresses they face should not be ignored.

“For foreign professionals, work can be all-encompassing and serve as an important support system, a source of purpose, and a center of social connection. This is unlike the experience of local employees, who have boundaries between their personal and professional lives. It can be vague.

“It is vital to take a holistic approach – employers must address work-life balance, promote social wellbeing and provide support beyond physical and mental health.”