Intercultural communication competence and job burnout in MNC employees: the mediation role of job stress

Abstract

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This study examined the relationship between intercultural communication competence (ICC) and job burnout, as well as the mediating effects of job stress, using data collected from employees (n = 1,064) from a Chinese multinational corporation in Brunei. Through regression analysis and mediation effect tests, we found that ICC was negatively associated with job burnout (β = −0.19, p < 0.001) and job stress (β = −0.08, p < 0.001). Job stress was positively associated with job burnout (β = 0.65, p < 0.001). Job stress played a partial mediating role between ICC and job burnout. The total effect of ICC on job burnout was −0.19, the direct effect was −0.14, and the indirect effect of ICC via job stress was −0.05. The findings call for ICC training for employees in multinational corporations.

Keywords

• Chinese multinational corporation
• intercultural communication competence
• job burnout
• job stress
• Southeast Asia