Conducting research is an important part of how TCK Training cares for globally mobile families. In 2024, we ran a survey of 1,643 Adult TCKs, including 98 people who lived abroad during childhood due to a parent's corporate assignment. This research reflected the complexity of an international upbringing, with both wonderful experiences and difficult impacts represented in the data:

96% of corporate TCKs saw a "broad worldview" as one of their strengths

91% of corporate TCKs said living internationally as a child was a good experience overall

88% of corporate TCKs experienced symptoms of at least one mental health concern 

46% of corporate TCKs had been diagnosed with anxiety

33% of corporate TCKs had a "serious mental health crisis" during childhood

Respondents were offered a list of statements and asked which reflected their own experiences of growing up as TCKs. These statements were based on common sentiments expressed during our work with hundreds of TCKs, including those we support with Unstacking Sessions. There were a lot of positive sentiments expressed, including:

• 96% of corporate TCKs could see both good and hard parts in their story. 
• 91% of corporate TCKs said living internationally as a child was a good experience overall.
• 68% of corporate TCKs said this was “the best way to grow up”.
• 60% of corporate TCKs said living abroad made their family closer. 

22% of corporate TCKs said their experience was “mostly painful” which was similar to what we saw in other sectors. It is important to note that the majority of corporate TCKs said they could see both good and hard parts in their story, and that living overseas was a good experience overall.

We also reviewed how parents’ occupation impacted TCKs by asking which statements they identified with as children. Corporate TCKs were far less identified with their parents' work than other TCKs (such as the children of diplomats, military personnel, and missionaries). Nearly half of corporate TCKs (47%) said they were "indifferent" to their parents work abroad - that it was no different to working elsewhere - and only 16% identified with their parent’s work/purpose – considerably lower than seen in other sectors. 42% of corporate TCKs were proud of their parent’s work and 36% said that as children they wished to follow in their parent's career footsteps - again lower than seen in other sectors.

There seemed to be benefits to this 'disconnect' from parents' occupation. Corporate TCKs were less likely to feel pressure to "perform" while visiting their passport country (30%) and half as likely to feel pressure to be "perfect" while living abroad (26% vs 58% of all TCKs). Corporate TCKs were nearly twice as likely to feel pressure to maintain their home language/accent (31% vs 17%), though this may be impacted by a higher percentage of Asian TCKs in this sector.

Drawing from our experiences working with hundreds of TCKs, we also curated lists of potential strengths and struggles that might be identified during adulthood. These were predominantly taken from things we regularly hear TCKs say when describing their experiences, but also included words and phrases that are often used to describe the TCKs life – for better or worse.

There were many areas in which corporate TCKs saw strengths in their adult selves, such as the 96% who saw a Broad Worldview as one of their strengths. Corporate TCKs were more confident of certain strengths that other TCKs, including:

• 93% of corporate TCKs identified Empathy as a strength
• 93% of corporate TCKs identified Bridge Between Cultures as a strength
• 70% of corporate TCKs identified Hope in Adversity as a strength
• 59% of corporate TCKs identified Language Learning as a strength

In addition, 81% of corporate TCKs saw Adaptability as one of their strengths and 74% affirmed Resilience (on par with other TCKs).

Generally speaking, corporate TCKs identified these areas of struggle in adulthood at similar rates to other TCKs, though corporate TCKs were more likely to say they struggled with itchy feet, emotional dysregulation, and fear of commitment than other TCKs. 

Corporate TCKs' greatest areas of struggle included:

• 72% of corporate TCKs had trouble belonging
• 65% of corporate TCKs experienced identity uncertainty
• 65% of corporate TCKs experienced "itchy feet"
• 53% of corporate TCKs had difficulty naming their own feelings

A range of questions were asked regarding experiences of mental health. This included discussions of childhood and adulthood experiences, what mental health care was available (and which was most helpful), screening questions developed in conjunction with several mental health professionals, and questions regarding formal medical diagnoses. We will begin here by looking at key symptoms of mental ill health reported by corporate TCKs through screening questions. 

33% of corporate TCKs said they experienced a “serious mental health crisis” during childhood. 88% of corporate TCKs surveyed had experienced symptoms of at least one mental health concern during their lifetime, and nearly half (47%) had at least one formally diagnosed mental health condition. This is similar to what was seen in TCKs from other sectors.

A high percentage of corporate TCKs had experienced symptoms consistent with anxiety (67%), depression (57%), suicidal ideation (51%), and PTSD (44%). While most of this was consistent with the rates seen in other TCKs, corporate TCKs were more likely to experience certain mental health concerns than other TCKs:

• Corporate TCKs were 41% more likely to self harm than other TCKs.
• Corporate TCKs were 27% more likely to experience disordered eating than other TCKs.
• Corporate TCKs were 12% more likely to experience anxiety than other TCKs.

Anxiety was the most commonly diagnosed condition among corporate TCKs. 46% of all corporate TCKs were diagnosed with anxiety, nearly a third (31%) with depression, and 16% of corporate TCKs had been diagnosed with panic attacks.

The lower diagnosis rates for other conditions is not necessarily a good thing. 38% of corporate TCKs answered the screening question for disordered eating in the affirmative, saying they had engaged in these practices - but only 16% of these received a diagnosis. 29% of those who affirmed that they had self harmed had been diagnosed. 31% of those who experienced suicidal thoughts were diagnosed.

Previous research showed that a significant proportion of corporate TCKs grew up in homes where adults struggled with their own mental health. It is important that corporate families living internationally receive support to improve the mental health of parents and children alike.

This data reveals a complex picture of corporate TCKs’ globally mobile childhoods: both positive experiences of childhood overall, and difficult experiences with lasting impacts. Taking time to acknowledge this “ampersand life” – the both/and of the corporate TCK experience – is important. As we do this, we ask the question: with this knowledge in hand, what can we do to provide empathetic and effective care to families who travel internationally for work?

The first step is simply acknowledging that the stress of international moves has a deep impact on families and the relationships between parents and children.

Having acknowledged this difficulty, we can start reaching out for resources that will support corporate families going through the additional stresses of international relocations. TCK Training is committed to providing tools and support systems that empower corporate TCKs and their families to thrive no matter where in the world they are.