Work-family conflict (WFC), defined as an incompatibility between the work and family roles (Greenhaus & Beutell, 1985), is a widely studied research topic nowadays (Yanchus et al., 2010) due to its negative consequences for individuals and organizations. Research and practical findings on this topic are necessary for both workers and organizations as previous studies have showed the negative effect of WFC on job satisfaction, work engagement, physical and psychological well-being and job performance (e.g. Allen et al., 2000; Carlson et al., 2000; Frone, 2003; Magee et al., 2012) as well as its relationship to absenteeism and turnover intentions (Boyar et al., 2003). In opposition, the recovery, defined as the recuperation process by which an individual returns to pre-stressors levels, was shown to have a positive impact on psycho-physical health (deCroon et al., 2004; Sonnentag & Frizt, 2007). Recent studies in work and organizational psychology literature have suggested to deepen the knowledge about the relationship between WFC and recovery (Demerouti et al., 2007; Sanz-Vergel et al., 2010). The aim of this study is to understand the relationship between recovery experiences (psychological detachment, relaxation, mastery and control, Sonnetag & Fritz, 2007) and WFC, using the job demands-resources model (Bakker & Demerouti, 2007) as a framework. More specifically, we know from literature that job demands increase WFC (Byron, 2005); in addition, this research aims at understanding whether recovery experiences can moderate the relationship between job demands (in this study workload and emotional demands) and WFC. Method The present research was carried out among 597 Italian workers from different professional sectors, who filled in an on-line self-report questionnaire. Among the participants, 56% were females, 60% were married or cohabited, 48% had children. The average age of participants was 40.36 years (SD = 9.43). In total, 47% were employees with a permanent contract, 9% were employees with a fixed-term contract and 44% were self-employed. Average hours worked per week was 42.08 hours (SD = 10.94); mean seniority on the job was 12.58 years (SD = 9.53). The questionnaire contained: 4-item workload (Bakker et al., 2004); 3-item emotional demands (Bakker et al., 2003); 16-item recovery experiences (Sonnentag & Fritz, 2007); 5-item WFC (Colombo & Ghislieri, 2008). Data analysis was conducted using PASW 18 for descriptive analysis, correlations and hierarchical regressions. In the analysis, we controlled for gender, age and having children. Results Results from eight different hierarchical regressions (combinations between the two job demands—workload and emotional demands—and the four recovery experiences—detachment, relaxation, mastery and control) revealed a strong positive relationship of workload with WFC and a lower positive relationship of emotional demands with WFC. Moreover, all the four recovery experiences showed a negative relation with WFC. Regarding the hypothesized interaction effects, the relationship between workload and WFC was particularly strong under condition of low (vs. high) detachment, relaxation and control (explained variance was respectively 31%, 32% and 32%). Results did not reveal the interaction effect of mastery experience between workload and WFC. As regards the relationship between emotional demands and WFC, no moderational effect of any recovery experience resulted significant. Discussion This study, one of the first on this topic, highlights the importance of understanding the role of recovery within the work-family interface dynamics and confirms that recovery can improve work-family balance (Sonnentag & Bayer, 2005). More specifically, in line with previous research, our findings highlighted the positive relationship between job demands and WFC (e.g. Byron, 2005) and the negative relationship between recovery and WFC (Sanz-Vergel et al., 2010). The most original finding of this research regards the buffer effect of three recovery experiences, detachment, relaxation and control, on the relationship between workload and WFC. The study has some limitations, due to its cross-sectional design and self-reports data. Thus, future longitudinal research or diary study should be conducted to replicate its findings. Conclusion The study suggests practical implications which can support both organizations and workers in managing workload and leisure time, in order to foster recovery experiences. Therefore, workers should try to experience different kinds of recovery experiences in their off-job time (Fritz & Sonnentag, 2005), on the basis of their preferences. In addition, organizations should try to design not too demanding jobs so that people can completely recover from them (Demerouti et al., 2007; Fritz & Sonnetag, 2005) and preserve their non-work domain.
Relationship between recovery experiences and work-family conflict: a study on moderational effects
MOLINO, MONICA;GHISLIERI, Chiara;CORTESE, Claudio Giovanni;
2013-01-01
Abstract
Work-family conflict (WFC), defined as an incompatibility between the work and family roles (Greenhaus & Beutell, 1985), is a widely studied research topic nowadays (Yanchus et al., 2010) due to its negative consequences for individuals and organizations. Research and practical findings on this topic are necessary for both workers and organizations as previous studies have showed the negative effect of WFC on job satisfaction, work engagement, physical and psychological well-being and job performance (e.g. Allen et al., 2000; Carlson et al., 2000; Frone, 2003; Magee et al., 2012) as well as its relationship to absenteeism and turnover intentions (Boyar et al., 2003). In opposition, the recovery, defined as the recuperation process by which an individual returns to pre-stressors levels, was shown to have a positive impact on psycho-physical health (deCroon et al., 2004; Sonnentag & Frizt, 2007). Recent studies in work and organizational psychology literature have suggested to deepen the knowledge about the relationship between WFC and recovery (Demerouti et al., 2007; Sanz-Vergel et al., 2010). The aim of this study is to understand the relationship between recovery experiences (psychological detachment, relaxation, mastery and control, Sonnetag & Fritz, 2007) and WFC, using the job demands-resources model (Bakker & Demerouti, 2007) as a framework. More specifically, we know from literature that job demands increase WFC (Byron, 2005); in addition, this research aims at understanding whether recovery experiences can moderate the relationship between job demands (in this study workload and emotional demands) and WFC. Method The present research was carried out among 597 Italian workers from different professional sectors, who filled in an on-line self-report questionnaire. Among the participants, 56% were females, 60% were married or cohabited, 48% had children. The average age of participants was 40.36 years (SD = 9.43). In total, 47% were employees with a permanent contract, 9% were employees with a fixed-term contract and 44% were self-employed. Average hours worked per week was 42.08 hours (SD = 10.94); mean seniority on the job was 12.58 years (SD = 9.53). The questionnaire contained: 4-item workload (Bakker et al., 2004); 3-item emotional demands (Bakker et al., 2003); 16-item recovery experiences (Sonnentag & Fritz, 2007); 5-item WFC (Colombo & Ghislieri, 2008). Data analysis was conducted using PASW 18 for descriptive analysis, correlations and hierarchical regressions. In the analysis, we controlled for gender, age and having children. Results Results from eight different hierarchical regressions (combinations between the two job demands—workload and emotional demands—and the four recovery experiences—detachment, relaxation, mastery and control) revealed a strong positive relationship of workload with WFC and a lower positive relationship of emotional demands with WFC. Moreover, all the four recovery experiences showed a negative relation with WFC. Regarding the hypothesized interaction effects, the relationship between workload and WFC was particularly strong under condition of low (vs. high) detachment, relaxation and control (explained variance was respectively 31%, 32% and 32%). Results did not reveal the interaction effect of mastery experience between workload and WFC. As regards the relationship between emotional demands and WFC, no moderational effect of any recovery experience resulted significant. Discussion This study, one of the first on this topic, highlights the importance of understanding the role of recovery within the work-family interface dynamics and confirms that recovery can improve work-family balance (Sonnentag & Bayer, 2005). More specifically, in line with previous research, our findings highlighted the positive relationship between job demands and WFC (e.g. Byron, 2005) and the negative relationship between recovery and WFC (Sanz-Vergel et al., 2010). The most original finding of this research regards the buffer effect of three recovery experiences, detachment, relaxation and control, on the relationship between workload and WFC. The study has some limitations, due to its cross-sectional design and self-reports data. Thus, future longitudinal research or diary study should be conducted to replicate its findings. Conclusion The study suggests practical implications which can support both organizations and workers in managing workload and leisure time, in order to foster recovery experiences. Therefore, workers should try to experience different kinds of recovery experiences in their off-job time (Fritz & Sonnentag, 2005), on the basis of their preferences. In addition, organizations should try to design not too demanding jobs so that people can completely recover from them (Demerouti et al., 2007; Fritz & Sonnetag, 2005) and preserve their non-work domain.
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