Perceived social support and work-family conflict

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 306-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cort W. Rudolph ◽  
Jesse S. Michel ◽  
Michael B. Harari ◽  
Tyler J. Stout

Purpose – Despite the abundance of research on work social support and work-family conflict, the generalizability of these relationships to immigrant and non-immigrant Hispanics is still unknown. Based on role and cultural theories, the purpose of this paper is to provide an empirical examination of these relationships within this growing yet understudied population. Design/methodology/approach – Survey data were collected from a diverse sample of employed immigrant and non-immigrant Hispanics from a broad set of occupational groups within Miami, Florida (USA). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test hypotheses. Multi-group analyses were conducted to test for differences in model fit and parameter estimates between the immigrant and non-immigrant subgroups. Findings – The hypothesized model fit the data well, with a significant positive relationship between perceived organizational social support and perceived supervisor social support, a significant negative relationship between perceived organizational social support and work-to-family conflict, and a significant negative relationship between perceived supervisor social support and family-to-work conflict. Multi-group SEM, which offered acceptable model fit, suggests that perceived organizational social support is associated with reduced work-family conflict for immigrant but not for non-immigrant Hispanics, and perceived supervisor social support is associated with reduced work-family conflict for non-immigrant but not for immigrant Hispanics. Research limitations/implications – Cross-sectional data do not allow for strong causal interpretations. Practical implications – Perceived work social support is an important indicator of work-family conflict for both immigrant and non-immigrant Hispanics, although specific relationships can differ based on immigration status. Originality/value – Few studies have investigated differences in work-family conflict between non-immigrant and immigrant Hispanics.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maya Kroumova ◽  
Rakesh Mittal ◽  
Joshua Bienstock

Purpose This study aims to examine the complex relationship between the personality meta-traits of stability and plasticity and time-based work–family conflict (WFC). Stability and plasticity are hypothesized to influence WFC directly and indirectly, via boundary strength at work (BSW) and boundary strength at home (BSH) domains. WFC has two dimensions – conflict due to family interfering in work (FIW) and conflict due to work interfering in family (WIF). Design/methodology/approach Data was collected from 419 full-time employees in multiple US companies. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. Findings Stability was associated with lower levels of WFC and stronger boundaries around the work and home domains. BSW mediated the relationship between stability and FIW; BSH mediated the relationship between stability and WIF. plasticity was associated with weaker boundaries around the work and home domains. BSW and BSH had a negative relationship with FIW and WIF, respectively. Research limitations/implications The study is cross-sectional and limited to time-based work–family conflict. The results support the adoption of a more agentic view of personality in the boundary setting and WFC literatures. Practical implications Employers need to design flexible work programs that offer employees control over work–home boundary strength. Originality/value The study links stability and plasticity to WFC. It expands the nomological network of work–home boundaries.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-142
Author(s):  
Abha Bhalla ◽  
Lakhwinder Singh Kang

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the pattern of work-family interface outcomes by empirically testing work-family conflict and facilitation bidirectional dimensions simultaneously in relation to domains-specific (job and family) and domain nonspecific (life) satisfactions. In addition, the indirect effects of work-family interface dimensions on life satisfaction (LS), mediated through both domain-specific satisfactions are also examined to understand which domain satisfaction elicits major impact on LS. Design/methodology/approach Structural equation modeling analysis was conducted on questionnaire data obtained from 212 fulltime journalists working in top ten dailies of Punjab, India. Parallel multiple mediated regression was used to estimate specific indirect effects caused by each of the two parallel mediators (job satisfaction (JS) and family satisfaction (FS)). Findings Results illustrate that both dimensions of work-family conflict strongly decreased satisfaction of an originating domain than satisfaction of the receiving domain while both dimensions of work-family facilitation increased satisfaction of both the domains on equal basis. Results further reveal that the effect of work-family conflict and facilitation dimensions on LS is indirect rather than direct. On comparison of specific indirect effects results demonstrate that only originating domain satisfaction act as a mediator to work-family conflict and LS relationship, while both JS and FS act as mediators to work-family facilitation and LS relationship. Practical implications Media organizations can offer interventions like family friendly policies, overtime pay, more autonomy, work rewards and skill variety, so that employees’ workplace resource reservoir can be strongly built up to meet future work and family demands. In this way, positive intrusion from work-to-family takes place, which leads to more JS and FS and in turn increased overall LS. Originality/value The study removes inconsistency regarding pattern of work-family conflict and facilitation outcomes by testing a comprehensive model that integrates originating domain, receiving-domain and domain-nonspecific outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Smart Egwu Otu ◽  
Ivan Sun ◽  
Charles Ikechukwu Akor ◽  
Macpherson Uchenna Nnam ◽  
Yuning Wu ◽  
...  

PurposeThis study aims to assess the direct relationships between internal support and job satisfaction and voluntary assistance and their indirect connections through work–family conflict among Nigerian police officers.Design/methodology/approachSurvey data were collected from police officers in a midsized state police command in Ebonyi state in Nigeria. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess the connections between supervisor support, peer support, work–family conflict, job satisfaction and voluntary assistance.FindingsPolice officers with stronger supervisor and co-worker support are more inclined to express higher job satisfaction, whereas such support is not linked to officers' willingness to help fellow officers. Work–family conflict mediates the relationship between co-worker support and voluntary assistance. Stronger peer support is accompanied by higher work–family conflict, which then is linked to greater helping behavior.Originality/valueDespite many studies on police job satisfaction, research on correlates of job satisfaction in an African context remains severely under-investigated. This study represents one of the first attempts to assess police proactive helping behavior and job satisfaction in Nigeria.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 3767-3786
Author(s):  
Xinyuan (Roy) Zhao ◽  
Jiale Wang ◽  
Rob Law ◽  
Xinping Fan

Purpose This study aims to illustrate how organizational support can reduce work-family conflict (WFC) and improve job/life satisfaction by synthesizing the empirical findings among hospitality employees. Design/methodology/approach Previous empirical papers were searched through tourism and hospitality journals and 54 studies were ultimately selected. The correlation coefficients were coded and examined through meta-analysis, after which they were used to test the hypothesized model via meta-analytic structural equation modeling. Findings Findings demonstrated that organizational support plays a critical role in helping employees release WFC and improve life satisfaction but not job satisfaction. The number of children is a salient factor at the individual level on predicting WFC, whereas gender relates only to life satisfaction. The asymmetric permeable roles of WFC dimensions among work, family and life domains were also shown. Practical implications The findings can help hospitality managers be aware of the critical roles of organizational support in assisting employees to handle WFC and improve job and life satisfaction. Originality/value The relationships among organizational support, WFC and job/life satisfaction of frontline employees have been examined for the first time via meta-analytic SEM. In this manner, previous consistent and inconsistent findings can be synthesized for future theoretical development.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinyuan (Roy) Zhao ◽  
Richard Ghiselli

Purpose – This study aims to theoretically construct the role of hospitality job characteristics (HJCs), conceptually identify specific HJCs and empirically examine the relationships of these to work–family conflict and job stress. Hospitality employees work in a “smile factory” – often under stress. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from 346 hotel employees in China and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and a series of hierarchical regression analyses (HRA). Findings – The SEM results confirmed the general role of HJCs as a job stressor, and the HRA findings differentiated the specific impacts of the characteristics on work–family conflict and job stress. Research limitations/implications – The survey was cross-sectional and correlational in nature. Furthermore, the results were also from selected hotels, and the respondents do not fully represent all hotel employees. Finally, the measures of hospitality job uniqueness were employees’ subjective agreement on the given statements. Practical implications – The study offers a systematic framework of specific job characteristics in the hospitality context for the reconciliation of previously inconsistent research findings. The findings may also be useful to hospitality managers as they attempt to analyze and understand the specific job characteristics that are the most salient reasons for withdrawal attitudes and behaviors. Originality/value – The present study identified the list of HJCs by summarizing previous studies and examining the roles of HJCs in work attitudes among hospitality employees. These efforts could be helpful both for scholars by constructing a consistent base for future research and for managers by precisely analyzing the specific job attributes.


Author(s):  
Michael J. Maloni ◽  
David M. Gligor ◽  
Robin A. Cheramie ◽  
Elizabeth M. Boyd

Purpose A talent shortage and underrepresentation of women in logistics emphasize the need to assess the logistics work culture. As logistics practitioners face round-the-clock job pressures, work–family conflict presents one such opportunity for study. Consequently, the purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of supervisors and mentoring on work interference with family (WIF) and subsequent job satisfaction and intent to leave logistics. Design/methodology/approach Under role conflict theory, the authors apply structural equation modeling to survey data of logistics practitioners, focusing on time, strain and behavior WIF sources. Findings The results highlight the complexity of WIF in logistics. Strain and behavior-based WIF relate to job satisfaction, which then relates to intent to leave logistics. Family-supportive supervisors reduce time and strain-based WIF, and mentoring provides complementary support for behavior-based WIF. However, mentoring also yields unintended contradictory effects for women as detrimental to time-based WIF. Research limitations/implications The relatively small sample size, particularly for women, limits generalizability of the results. Practical implications To foster supportive work environments, logistics organizations must train supervisors and mentors to resolve employee WIF, including its different sources and gender-specific impacts. Originality/value The interplay of supervisors and mentors has not been well studied to date. Also, the contradictory impacts of mentoring for women based on WIF sources challenges WIF literature and issues warnings for mentoring in professional practice. Finally, the results provide insight into the talent shortage and gender imbalance in logistics that lack empirical study.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 787-801
Author(s):  
Nimitha Aboobaker ◽  
Manoj Edward ◽  
K.A. Zakkariya

Purpose Teaching is generally seen as a calling, rather than just a formal profession. In the context of commercialization of higher education, with increased workloads and lack of community relationships, the purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of employees’ experience of workplace spirituality on intention to stay with the organization, mediated through work–family conflict. The study seeks to add to theory development in the area of workplace spirituality and its outcomes, by examining the theoretical framework through the lens of self-determination theory of motivation. Design/methodology/approach This descriptive study was conducted among a sample of 350 teachers, working in the private sector higher educational institutes in India, selected through purposive sampling. Validated and widely accepted tests were administered among the respondents and structural equation modeling was done to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings The findings of the study suggest that amongst the current generation of teachers, experience of workplace spirituality and work–family conflict (WFC) plays a significant role in predicting intention to stay with the organization. Employees’ experience of dimensions of workplace spirituality had varying influences on WFC and intention to stay with the organization. WFC mediated the relationships between two dimensions of workplace spirituality (meaningful work and sense of community) and intention to stay, but not the relationship between alignment with organizational values and intention to stay. Originality/value This study is pioneering in conceptualizing and testing a theoretical model linking workplace spirituality, work–family conflict and intention to stay, particularly through the self-determination motivational theory perspective. To improve employees’ intention to stay with the organizations, managers need to devise strategies aimed at facilitating connectedness and lowered WFC. Personalized work–family policies might be the need of the hour, as to contain the inherent WFC in contemporary organizations.


2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 402-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alisha McGregor ◽  
Christopher A. Magee ◽  
Peter Caputi ◽  
Donald Iverson

Purpose Utilising the job demands-resources (JD-R) model, the purpose of this paper is to examine how aspects of the psychosocial work environment (namely, job demands and resources) are associated with presenteeism, and in particular, whether they are indirectly related via burnout and work engagement. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey of 980 working Australians measured the relationships between job demands (i.e. workplace bullying, time pressure and work-family conflict), resources (i.e. leadership and social support), burnout, work engagement and presenteeism. Path analysis was used to test the proposed hypotheses whilst controlling for participant demographics (i.e. sex, age, work level, duration and education). Findings Higher job demands (workplace bullying, time pressure, and work-family conflict) and lower job resources (leadership only) were found to be indirectly related to presenteeism via increased burnout. While increased job resources (leadership and social support) were indirectly related to presenteeism via improved work engagement. Practical implications The findings are consistent with the JD-R model, and suggest that presenteeism may arise from the strain and burnout associated with overcoming excessive job demands as well as the reduced work engagement and higher burnout provoked by a lack of resources in the workplace. Intervention programmes could therefore focus on teaching employees how to better manage job demands as well as promoting the resources available at work as an innovative way to address the issue of rising presenteeism. Originality/value This study is important as it is one of the first to examine the theoretical underpinnings of the relationship between presenteeism and its antecedents.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
William D. Hunsaker

PurposeThis study examines how employee well-being, in combination with spiritual leadership, helps mitigate the negative effects of work–family conflict.Design/methodology/approachThis study followed an explanatory research design to explain the relationship between spiritual leadership and work–family conflict. The approach was based on a cross-sectional survey of 278 workers from diverse industries and functional roles in South Korea's manufacturing and service sectors. Structural equation modeling and hierarchical regression analysis were used to test hypothesized relationships.FindingsResults confirmed that spiritual leadership and employee well-being inversely influenced work–family conflict, in terms of work-to-family and family-to-work role interference. Furthermore, employee well-being fully mediated both of these relationships.Practical implicationsThis study suggests that organizational competitiveness can be enhanced through a dual approach of organizational strategies and human resource training that cultivate employee well-being and a family-friendly environment. Notably, this study clarifies the value of leadership practices to both trigger and enhance employee well-being through a sense of meaningfulness in and at work.Originality/valueThis study expands the scope of our current understanding of how employee well-being is an effective mechanism in helping employees cope with work–family role conflict. Moreover, the study demonstrates the role that leadership practices, beyond the narrow interpretation of perceived supervisor support, play in helping employees cope with role conflict. Finally, this study enhances the field of workplace spirituality by examining the influence of spiritual leadership on employees' spiritual well-being and work–family conflict, which has not been currently addressed in the workplace spirituality field.


2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samsinar Md‐Sidin ◽  
Murali Sambasivan ◽  
Izhairi Ismail

PurposeThe main purpose of this study is to link work‐family conflict, quality of work and non‐work lives, quality of life and social support (supervisor and spouse supports). Specifically, it seeks to address three different roles of social support that have theoretical and empirical support and the mediating roles of quality of work life and quality of non‐work life.Design/methodology/approachThe SEM‐based approach has been used to study supervisor and spouse supports as moderators between work‐family conflict and quality of life; independent variables of work‐family conflict; independent variables of quality of life. The study has been carried out in Malaysia.FindingsThe main findings are: work‐family conflict has relationship with quality of life; quality of work life and non‐work life are “partial” mediators between work‐family conflict and quality of life; and, among the various roles of social support, its role as an independent variable of quality of life gives the best results.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is based on a cross‐sectional study conducted in Malaysia and addresses only the spouse and supervisor supports as components of social support.Originality/valueThe research has developed a comprehensive model linking work‐family conflict, quality of work and non‐work lives, and quality of life and has studied the role of social support.


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