A Work-Family Conflict/Subjective Well-Being Process Model: A Test of Competing Theories of Longitudinal Effects

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Matthews, Russell A.; Wayne, Julie Holliday; Ford, Michael T.
• 署名单位: University System of Ohio; Bowling Green State University; Wake Forest University; State University of New York (SUNY) System; University at Albany, SUNY
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0021-9010
• DOI: 10.1037/a0036674
• 发表日期: 2014
• 页码: 1173-1187
• 关键词: work-family conflict; Subjective well-being; longitudinal; strain-stressor; adaptation theory

摘要

In the present study, we examine competing predictions of stress reaction models and adaptation theories regarding the longitudinal relationship between work-family conflict and subjective well-being. Based on data from 432 participants over 3 time points with 2 lags of varying lengths (i.e., 1 month, 6 months), our findings suggest that in the short term, consistent with prior theory and research, work-family conflict is associated with poorer subjective well-being. Counter to traditional work-family predictions but consistent with adaptation theories, after accounting for concurrent levels of work-family conflict as well as past levels of subjective well-being, past exposure to work-family conflict was associated with higher levels of subjective well-being over time. Moreover, evidence was found for reverse causation in that greater subjective well-being at 1 point in time was associated with reduced work-family conflict at a subsequent point in time. Finally, the pattern of results did not vary as a function of using different temporal lags. We discuss the theoretical, research, and practical implications of our findings.