Love without borders: The relationship between intercultural marriage and family-to-work enrichment

Intercultural marriages have significantly increased in tandem with the global rise in migration and globalization, particularly in Western societies. While the advantages of diversity are widely celebrated in the workplace, the potential benefits that cultural diversity within a marriage might bring to professional environments remain underexplored. Despite numerous calls for in-depth analyses of close intercultural relationships, studies focusing on intercultural families are sparse. This conceptual paper investigates how intercultural marriages may foster family-to-work enrichment (FWE) through both instrumental and affective pathways. Utilizing critical contextual empiricism (CCE) and relational cultural theory (RCT), we propose a model that outlines how intercultural marriages can enhance enrichment from home to work. This model includes culturally diverse conflict management and communication skills, along with complementary characteristics that mutually enhance partners’ abilities. We suggest potential moderators of these effects and conclude by discussing theoretical and practical implications. In sum, our paper contributes to cross-cultural management research by identifying intercultural marriage as a context for cultural learning, which can enhance individuals’ capacity for empathy, adaptability, and relational competency in an ever-growing globalized world and work environment.