Work‐family conflict in East vs Western countries

Demystifying the life domain in work-life balance: A Malaysian perspective

Traditionally, the word 'life' in the concept of work-life balance focuses on family obligations. This conceptual paper sets out to present the notion that "life" goes beyond family responsibilities and is unique to employees of different demographics. Given the impending difference in how "life" is viewed by different groups of employees, this study reviews the literature and argues for the need to distinguish between different dimensions of the non-work domain. The discussion is centered on the transformation taking place within the Malaysian workforce. Recent trends indicate that "life" and "family" are indeed distinct domains. There is a need for organizations to acknowledge this distinction and provide relevant support to attain a balance between work, life, and family. The paper will help strengthen the knowledge about the "life" in the concept of work-life balance and employers better understand the conceptualization of "life" in work-life balance so that they can strategize and enhance employee well-being and eventually gain competitive advantage. Currently, the terms work-life balance and work-family balance are used interchangeably to represent a balance between the family and work domain. This is especially evident in collectivist countries such as Malaysia. However, the emphasis on family without due consideration to the needs of employees with different demographic configurations may result in work-life backlash. Hence, this study argues that the non-work domain is not limited to family obligations and should encompass both family obligations and personal activities. The emphasis on striking a balance between work and family domain should not be done at the expense of the well-being of employees with lesser or no family obligations.

Testing spillover-crossover effects of work-family conflict and family-work conflict on Indonesian spouses

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the spillover–crossover effects on the work–family interface, with an emphasis on work–family conflict (WFC) and family–work conflict (FWC) on marital satisfaction and personal burnout.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from matched dyads by 300 teachers and their spouses (N = 600) in Indonesia. Multiple regression analysis served to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results showed significant spillover–crossover effects of WFC on personal burnout amongst working wives to their spouses, but not working husbands to their spouses. Moreover, there was a spillover effect of FWC on personal burnout amongst working wives, and a crossover effect of FWC on spouses' personal burnout amongst working husbands to their spouses. However, there was no spillover–crossover effect of WFC and FWC on marital satisfaction for both working wives and husbands.

Practical implications

The findings have implications for occupational stress management. Decision-makers have to create a positive atmosphere that reduces WFC in the workplace by providing support to the workers.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by exploring the crossover effects of WFC and FWC amongst marital spouses in a country with inherent conservatism and traditional gender role perspectives.

Work-to-family conflict, family satisfaction and engagement nexus: insights from millennial managers

Purpose

Millennials’ perception of work, personal and family life is different from other generations. Building on studies on workforce generations, this paper aims to uncover not only the effect of work-to-family conflict (WFC) and family satisfaction (FS) on millennial managers engagement but also the moderating effect of (gender and marital status) in predicting engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper used a survey to collect data from managers of selected companies in Nigeria. In total, 127 questionnaires were analysed using the partial least square structural equation modelling method.

Findings

Results reveal that the relationship between WFC, FS and millennial managers’ engagement is direct and significant. Besides, the effect of WFC on engagement is stronger in men and for married. The effect of FS on engagement is greater for women than men and for married.

Practical implications

This study informs the research community as well as practitioners and affirms the importance of supportive work-to-family life and FS in fostering millennial managers’ engagement with their organisations.

Originality/value

This study is among the initial attempts to evaluate the impact of WFC and FS on engagement among millennial managers, especially in Africa, Nigeria in particular. The results identify millennial managers’ unique perspectives towards engagement and how gender and marital status may enhance engagement. With millennials fast attaining leadership roles, such knowledge is important.

The Influence of COVID-19 on Women’s Perceptions of Work-Family Conflict in Singapore

The COVID-19 pandemic has facilitated a shift in working arrangements. Work from home may blur work and family boundaries, with potential deleterious influence on Work-Family conflict levels. This is especially so for women, who have traditionally been associated with a greater share of homecare and family duties. Using a sample of 754 married, working mothers in Singapore, this study seeks to examine the conflicting roles of women in Singapore during COVID-19 and their consequences on Work-Family conflict. Results show that the negative impacts of COVID-19 increased Work-Family conflict levels. Additionally, factors such as work occupational commitment, work role overload, parental demands, and family support are found to be key predictors for Work-Family conflict during COVID-19. Implications are then discussed, and the findings can inform companies and governmental institutions on strategies to reduce Work-Family conflict levels.

Work-life balance and psychological distress: A structural equation modeling approach

BACKGROUND: This paper explored the factors that constitute work-life balance, i.e. work-family conflict, family-work conflict, job satisfaction, family satisfaction, life satisfaction, work autonomy, work overload and its impact on psychological distress. OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to understand the relationship between work-life balance and psychological distress. METHODS: Current study has adopted a quantitative approach, and cross-sectional research design has been used with snowball sampling technique. The sample size consists of 400 employees from the banking sector. SmartPLS3.1 has been used for structural equation modeling to give empirical findings from the responses collected. RESULTS: The current study has checked the direct relationship between work-life balance (WLB) factors and psychological distress. Out of seven variables, psychological distress was explained by three variables, namely; family satisfaction, family-work conflict and work overload. CONCLUSION: The study contributes to the existing literature by analyzing the impact factors of work-life balance on psychological distress among banking Sector employees. It also provides empirical evidence to the HR managers in formulating effective HR policy to sustain employees and make their personal and professional lives better.

INFLUENCE OF WORK/FAMILY CONFLICT ON OCCUPATIONAL FUTURE OF IT EMPLOYEES

Introduction: In recent years, with the increase in growth of Information Technology (IT) companies and diversified workforce, there is an increased research on Work\family conflict and occupational future. Objective: The objective is to study about the work\family conflict relation with occupational future with the effect of environmental support (support from organization and family) as moderator. Methodology: The data is gathered from 392 Information Technology employees working in different Information Technology companies in India. The data is analyzed with hierarchical regression and correlation Results: The outcomes of the study divulged a positive relation between work\family conflict and occupational future. And also, the results showed that every environmental item does not moderate between work family conflict and occupational future. Conclusion: Therefore work and occupational future is significant for the existence of IT industry, provide practical awareness of employee welfare and improve balanced life which might differ under certain specific conditions.

Work-family conflict and dangerous driving behaviours: The mediating role of affect

This study examined the under-studied relationship between work-family conflict and dangerous driving behaviours in a sample of employees, and job-related affect as a mediator of this relationship. The sample consisted of 476 Malaysian drivers (44.7% male; 55.3% female) aged 19-60 years. The participants completed scales measuring bidirectional work family conflict (work interference with family[ WIF]; family interference with work [FIW]), job-related negative affect, dangerous driving behaviours and socio-demographics. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling. Our findings indicate that dangerous driving was predicted by FIW, but not WIF. As predicted, job-related negative affect fully mediated the relationship between WIF and dangerous driving. Furthermore, the effect of FIW on dangerous driving behaviours was partially due to negative affect at work. Mediation path was conditional upon gender, suggesting the indirect effects of the relationship between FIW and dangerous driving behaviours via job affect occurs in males but not females. The findings of this study may be useful as a starting point for both applied and theoretical investigations of the role of the psychological effects of juggling work and family responsibilities and affect in traffic safety.

The relationship between work-life balance, the need for achievement, and intention to leave: Mixed-method study

AIMS

To examine the mediating role of employee well-being on the relationship between work-life balance practices, the need for achievement and intention to leave among nurses in Malaysia.

BACKGROUND

Work-life balance practices are associated with employee perceptions of the need for achievement and well-being which subsequently influence their intention to leave the organization. This study contributes new knowledge to nursing studies on work-life balance in an Asian and Islamic society where the expectations for women are to focus on family rather than career.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional, explanatory mixed methodology.

METHODS

This is a two-phase study conducted between 2015-2017 with 401 nurses in East Malaysia. In Phase 1, researchers surveyed 379 nurses to test eight hypotheses and in Phase 2 researchers interviewed 22 nurses to explore the results of Phase 1.

RESULTS

Phase 1 revealed job satisfaction mediates the relationship between work-life balance practices (e.g. flexibility and choice in working hours, supportive supervision), financial success, and intention to leave. However, life satisfaction and money as a motivator did not mediate such relationships. Phase 2 identified four important factors that cast light on survey results: working conditions of Malaysian nurses; inadequate compensation in the public healthcare sector; team-based practices; and pressure on senior nurses in both administrative and clinical roles.

CONCLUSION

This is one of the first studies to investigate work-life balance issues among nurses in Malaysia. Outcomes of this study extend the debates on work-life balance and employee well-being in an Asian Islamic social context.

IMPACT

The use of flexible working arrangements and collectivist teamwork approaches, improving compensation and employment benefits and eliminating the 'time-based job promotion' policy may help to mitigate work-life balance issues and intention to leave among nurses in Malaysia.

Understanding the role of self-efficacy in moderating work-family interface and emotional exhaustion

BACKGROUND: Over the years, an overwhelming amount of studies demonstrate that Work-family conflict is a major source of employees’ stress that may have obvious implications for organizational members. OBJECTIVE: This article investigates the effect of the work-family interface among service sector employees’ emotional exhaustion and the moderating role played by self-efficacy (SE). METHOD: Based on the responses of 202 telecom service employees, the authors examine proposed hypotheses through multiple moderated regression analyses. RESULTS: The results indicate that work-family conflict (WFC) and family-work conflict (FWC) were positively related to emotional exhaustion and negatively related to the work-family facilitation (WFF) and family-work facilitation (FWF). Additionally, we identify the potential moderating effect of SE on the relationship between facilitation and exhaustion but find no support for conflict and exhaustion. CONCLUSION: Our study findings lend support for one sub-principle of conservation of resource theory, that “gain begets further gain spiral” and enhances wellbeing. Implications for theory and practice regarding service employee management are discussed.

The effect of job demands on health and work outcomes: A longitudinal study among Malaysian employees

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the impact of job demands on health and work outcomes among Malaysian workers. We hypothesized that job demands (i.e., emotional demands and physical demands) would predict future work-related burnout and work engagement, in turn affecting sleep problems and job performance (in-role, extra-role). A longitudinal two-wave survey was conducted among Malaysian workers and valid data from 345 participants were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results revealed that work-related burnout predicts sleep problems while work engagement increased employees' job performance over time. Overall, the current study highlights the importance of specific job demands (i.e., emotional demands and physical demands) that specifically affect health-related behavior and work-related behavior among workers.

Shouldering a double burden: the cultural stigma of the dogma of gender role ideology and its impact on work–family conflict

Purpose

Drawing on the role theory and work–family border theory, this study aims to examine the relationship between work/family demands and sui generis forms of work–family conflict and further investigates the gender role ideology as a moderator of the relationship between work/family demands and work–family conflict.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were garnered with a self-reported questionnaire from randomly selected 569 employees working in the banking sector. As a caveat, nonresponse bias, common method variance and the reliability and validity of the measure were examined.

Findings

The results revealed that work demand and family demand were strongly related to both time- and strain-based work–family conflict; however, the relationship was not established with behavioural-based conflict. Notably, the findings affirmed the existence of a neglected form of psychological-based work–family conflict as the pièce de résistance and established a strong connection with its precursor. The dogma of gender role ideology, as a moderator, was indubitably confirmed and strengthened the positive relationship between family demand and family-to-work conflict.

Practical implications

The present study emphasises the importance of work/family demands and gender role ideology on work–family conflict. Consequently, it behoves human resource managers, strategists and practitioners to frame the organisational arrangements to alleviate the work–family conflict.

Originality/value

The present study fills a hiatus by establishing the relationship between work/family demand and work–family conflict with its cultural beliefs in the context of a collectivist culture.

Relationship Between Kindergarten Organizational Climate and Teacher Burnout: Work-Family Conflict as a Mediator

Burnout in kindergarten teachers is influenced by individual factors, social factors, and organizational factors. Kindergarten organizational climate as an external work resource may cause teacher burnout when it cannot meet their work demands. To explore the mechanisms that underlie the effects of kindergarten organizational climate on teacher burnout, we investigated the mediating effect of work-family conflict (i.e., work interfering with family and family interfering with work) on the relationship between kindergarten organizational climate and teacher burnout. The study sample included 436 kindergarten teachers in Henan, China. The Chinese versions of the Kindergarten Organizational Climate Scale, Kindergarten Teachers Work-Family Conflict Scale, and Kindergarten Teachers Burnout Scale were applied. The results showed that kindergarten organizational climate was positively correlated with work-family conflict and teacher burnout. Work-family conflict was positively correlated with teacher burnout. Work-family conflict partially mediated the effects of kindergarten organizational climate on teacher burnout. The mediating effect of family interfering with work was significantly stronger than the mediating effect of work interfering with family. The results are discussed with respect to the general literature on the correlation between organizational climate, WFC, and burnout.

Comparing the situation and person-based predictors of work–family conflict among married working professionals in India

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to ascertain the situation (presence of young children, working hours, social and organizational support) and person-based factors (core self-evaluations) that influence work-family conflict (both work-to-family conflict (WFC) and family-to-work conflict (FWC)) and to examine the relative power of situational factors vs person-based factors in predicting work-family conflict.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 367 married working professionals from eight organizations in the manufacturing and services sector in India. Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to test the hypotheses. Usefulness analysis was performed to reveal the unique contribution of the dispositional variables over the situational variables in predicting the variance in work-family conflict.

Findings

Personality factors accounted for more variance in FWC than in WFC, and situational factors accounted for more variance in WFC than in FWC.

Research limitations/implications

Given the limitations associated with a cross-sectional design, caution is needed concerning the inferences drawn. Only a few variables are considered to assess the characteristics of the context.

Practical implications

Organizations should not view the resolution of work-family conflict as the sole responsibility of an individual because of the demonstrated influence of both dispositional and contextual factors on the presence or absence of such conflict. While individuals may strive to have better self-management skills and stay positive in adverse situations, employers may assist them in dealing with work-family demands by introducing need-based support.

Originality/value

The relative importance of situation-based and person-based variables in predicting work-family conflict has rarely been examined on a managerial sample in India. Research on personality-based antecedents of work-home interference is also in its infancy. A better understanding of the factors as they relate to both directions of work-family conflict may help to identify suitable approaches to managing conflict.

A Dyadic Approach to Understanding Associations Between Job Stress, Marital Quality, and Dyadic Coping for Dual-Career Couples in Iran

In Iran, dual-career couples face many stressors due to their demands of balancing work and family. Moreover, the experience of this stress can negatively affect partners' martial quality. Recent studies have shown the positive impact of dyadic coping on well-being; however, a majority of this research has been conducted with Western cultures. As such, there is a dearth of literature on understanding how supportive and common dyadic coping may have a positive association with work-family stress for couples in Iran. Using a sample of 206 heterosexual dual-career couples from Iran, this study examines the associations between job stress and marital quality, and possible moderating effects of common and perceived partner supportive dyadic coping. As predicted, job stress was negatively associated with marital quality, and this association with further moderated by gender, such that women who experienced greater job stress also reported lower marital quality. Additionally, dyadic coping moderated the association between job stress and marital quality. Common dyadic coping attenuated the negative association between job stress and marital quality. The findings shed light on the possible beneficial effects of teaching supportive and common dyadic coping techniques to dual-career couples in Iran.

The interrelationships among job satisfaction, work–home interference and psychological contract breach

This study aims to expand the literature on work–home interference, job satisfaction and psychological contracts. Using a two-wave panel survey, this study tests an explanatory model using data collected from 414 employees of three Egypt-based organizations. Consistent with the developed hypotheses, the results indicate a reciprocal negative relationship between employees’ work–home interference and job satisfaction. Moreover, psychological contract breach is negatively associated with job satisfaction. Furthermore, a moderating role of psychological contract breach in the relationship between work–home interference and job satisfaction is supported. In other words, a higher level of psychological contract breach intensifies the negative impact of work–home interference on job satisfaction. Implications for theory, research and practice and directions for future research with cultural emphasis are discussed.

Crossing the Work/Life Boundary with ICT: Moderating Effect of ICT Perception on the Relationship between Cross-domain ICT Use and Work/Life Conflict

Information and communication technology (ICT) enables employees to seamlessly traverse work and life domains, and thus impacts employee work/life interactions. Employers today are mindful of employee work/life interactions as an important element in employee wellbeing. With ICT being an integral element of today’s workplace, the ICT implications on work/life interactions have great relevance for the employers and policymakers. Literature on ICT and work/life interactions have focused on the Western and/or developed countries. Considering the rapid adaptation of ICTs in developing countries, it is important to understand whether the effect of ICT use on work/life interactions is universal. This study examined the impact of cross-domain ICT use on individual work/life conflict using a sample of professionals/ managers from Sri Lanka. Next, the cognitive dissonance theory was used to examine whether individuals’ perception towards ICTs (positive or negative) has a moderating impact on the aforementioned relationship. The findings validated the literature by demonstrating that cross-domain ICT use positively relates to work/life conflict even in the Sri Lankan context. Next, the results empirically demonstrated that individuals with negative perception towards ICT tend to experience a stronger relationship between work ICT use beyond times and work-to-life conflict. The theoretical contribution together with the implications for employers, human resource practitioners and individuals are also discussed.

Relationship between work-family conflict and unhealthy eating: Does eating style matter?

There is increasing evidence to suggest that work-family conflict is implicated in poor eating patterns. Yet, the underlying mechanism remains unexplored. The objectives of the present study were to demonstrate the interplay between work-family conflict, eating style, and unhealthy eating, and to test whether body mass index (BMI) and its interactions further explicate the relationships. In this study, 586 Malaysian adults (normal weight n = 437, overweight n = 149) completed a questionnaire, which included demographic variables, work-family scales, eating style measures, namely, restrained, emotional or external eating and reported food intake. As hypothesized, results showed that family-to-work conflict (FWC), emotional eating and external eating were positively related to unhealthy food consumption. In addition, emotional eating was found to moderate the impact of FCW on eating. These findings are consistent with research that has revealed emotional eating can indeed increase the positive association between stress such as conflict and unhealthy food choices. However, we found no clear support for the interactive effects of BMI. Our research builds on the findings of existing research as it demonstrates the role of eating style in explaining the association between work-family conflict and unhealthy eating. This conclusion has potential implications for appropriate interventions and calls for the enhancement of various policies to tackle obesity and other health problems.

Intercultural interactions in multinational subsidiaries

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show how individuals perceive the quality of intercultural interactions at work in multinational subsidiaries and to address the question of what actually prevails in their accounts, i.e., “the dark side” or “the bright side.”

Design/methodology/approach

The authors report the findings from five subsidiaries located in Poland and interviews with 68 employees of these companies.

Findings

The “bright side” dominated the interviewees’ accounts. The phenomenon of high social identity complexity or common in-group identity can help explain the findings. The results also shed some new light on the associations between the context of subsidiaries and the perception of the quality of intercultural interactions.

Research limitations/implications

The paper contributes to the literature on cultural diversity and intercultural interactions in multinational subsidiaries. As the “bright side” of interactions was emphasized in the interviews, it particularly supports positive cross-cultural scholarship studies. Yet the explorative research does not allow for a broader generalization of the results.

Practical implications

Managers of multinational corporations (MNCs) should do the following: shape the context of MNCs to influence the dynamics of intercultural interactions and the way they are seen by their employees; emphasize common in-group identity to help their employees to adopt more favorable attitudes toward intercultural interactions; look for individuals with multicultural identity who display more positive approaches to intercultural contacts; place emphasis on recruiting individuals fluent in the MNC’s functional language; offer language training for the staff; and recruit employees with significant needs for development who will perceive more opportunities in intercultural contacts.

Social implications

The research demonstrates that the multicultural workplace of MNCs may be recognized by employees as activating the positive potential of the individuals and organizations that make up a society.

Originality/value

The accounts of intercultural interactions are analyzed to illuminate some significant foundations of how individuals perceive such interactions. The study provides a qualitative lens and highlights the positive approach to intercultural interactions. It may redress the imbalance in prior research and satisfy the need for positive cross-cultural scholarship.

Indigenous perspectives on work-life enrichment and conflict in Canada

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine Indigenous perspectives of work-life enrichment and conflict and provides insights to better support Indigenous employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Interviews were conducted with 56 Indigenous people from six Canadian provinces. In total, 33 of the respondents were female and 23 were male. The interview responses were transcribed and entered in NVivo10. Thematic analysis was used.

Findings

The authors’ respondents struggled with feeling marginalized and felt frustrated that they could not engage in their cultural and family practices. The respondents spoke of putting family needs ahead of work and that many respondents paid a price for doing so.

Research limitations/implications

The results are not generalizable to all Indigenous peoples, however these results do fill a void in the literature.

Practical implications

Employers must consider revising policies including providing more supervisor support in the form of educating supervisors on various Indigenous cultural practices and examine ways of providing more flexibility with respect to cultural and family practices.

Social implications

Indigenous peoples have been marginalized since the advent of colonialism. This research addresses a gap in the literature by presenting how a group of Indigenous respondents frames work-life enrichment and conflict.

Originality/value

Very few studies have examined Indigenous perspectives on work-life enrichment and conflict using a qualitative research design. It also aligns with one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s calls to action.

Crossover of Work–Family Experiences from Supervisors to Subordinates: A Position Paper

Work–family experiences, such as work–family conflict and work–family enrichment, not only spill over from one role domain to another but also cross over from one role occupant (e.g., a partner in a dual-career couple or a supervisor in a work setting) to the other member in a dyad (e.g., the other partner in a dual-career couple or a subordinate in a work setting). Review of the literature suggests that studies using crossover models in work–family experiences, especially in work–family enrichment, are limited. Rarely studies have explored the processes through which the crossover takes place. Moreover, not many studies have considered supervisor–subordinate dyads as units of analysis in work–family literature. With this backdrop, the present article aims to put forth a few propositions to examine the crossover of work–family experiences from a supervisor to his/her subordinates. It posits that a supervisor’s work– family experiences may influence the perception of family supportive work-environment and the perceived control over work schedule, which in turn may influence his/her subordinate’s work–family experiences and the latter’s subsequent performance. This article also explores the moderating roles of empathy and leader–member exchange (LMX) quality in the crossover of work–family experiences from supervisors to subordinates. A conceptual framework is proposed for further empirical validation. Research and applied implications of the conceptual model are also discussed.

Relationship of work-family conflict with burnout and marital satisfaction: cross-domain or source attribution relations?

Background: The present study was conducted to examine the relationship between two dimensions of work-family conflict (WFC) with marital satisfaction and burnout in a society in which few studies have been done about the consequences of WFC.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015. Surveys were distributed to 420 employed married women with various jobs living in Bushehr province, Iran. Data were collected using a questionnaire for demographic characteristic, the Netmeyer’s WFC questionnaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory: General Survey (MBI-GS), and Enrich maritalsatisfaction questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: There was a negatively significant association between work interference with family(WIF) and overall burnout as well as emotional exhaustion (P < .01). Family interference with work (FIW) was significantly associated with depersonalization (P < .01). The overall marital satisfaction and its subscales were significantly associated with WIF (P < .01) and FIW (P < .01 for overall marital satisfaction and P < .05 for its subscales).

Conclusion: In terms of practical implication, to avoid creating disadvantages of WIF and FIW,facilitation in two domains of improving work and family conditions can be a useful means to prevent WFC and its consequences.

The effects of supervisors' supportive role, job stress, and work-family conflicts on the nurses' attitudes

This study developed and tested a research model that examined the effects of supervisor support (SUPPORT), work-family conflict (W-FCON), family-work conflict (F-WCON), and job stress (JSTRESS) on a number of selected consequences using data collected from nurses and nurse axillaries in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences hospitals in Fars province (south of Iran). The results demonstrated that W-FCON and F-WCON exerted a significant positive influence on JSTRESS. Contrary to the study hypothesis, the results did not provide any empirical support for the significant negative relationship between W-FCON, F-WCON, and JSTRESS with family satisfaction (FSAT). The findings further revealed that higher JSTRESS led to lower life satisfaction (LSAT). As expected, high levels of FSAT resulted in increased LSAT. However, this study failed to find significant negative relationships between conflicts in the work-family interface and LSAT. The results also revealed that JSTRESS was not significantly associated with LSAT. Consonant with the study hypotheses, W-FCON, F-WCON, and JSTRESS were found to be significant for turnover intentions, whereas LSAT did not. Implications for managers and future research directions are presented.

The Relations between Work Intensity and Work-Family Conflict in Collectivist Culture: Evidence from Turkish Health Care Professionals

The main purpose of this article is to advance the understanding of the relations between work intensity factors and work-family conflict factors in the collectivist culture pattern of Turkey. Data were collected using questionnaires from 462 health care professionals who are working in 25 different state hospitals and 12 cities in Turkey. SEM using by LISREL 8.0, hierarchical regression analysis, and ANOVA were used in analyzing the data.

The structural equation modelling results showed that work intensity factors were the significant predictors of work-to-family conflict factors for Turkish health care professions. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that personal demographics and work situation characteristics accounted for a significant increment in explained variance on the time based work family conflict factors measure. Support was found for the hypothesis that samples would demonstrate a positive relation between work intensity and work-family conflict for Turkish health care professions.

There are no statistically significant differences of time, strain and behaviour based work-to-family conflict according to gender, age, marital status, having children and function. There is a significant difference between the work-family conflict levels of health care professionals according to number of children, education level, work hours per week and organizational position.

Expanding the boundaries of work—family research: A review and agenda for future research

Given the dominance of work—family research within the context of the United States and a disparate and fractured understanding of the dynamic interplay between work and family for those who live and work beyond the borders of the United States, we review and synthesize 219 empirical work—family studies that have targeted employees outside of the United States. Our review answers four questions about international work—family research. First, what constitutes the work—family interface and is there consensus about how to measure it? Second, what theories have researchers used to explain the work—family interface? Third, which antecedents and consequences of the work—family interface are common across countries and which are unique to particular countries? Fourth, what can we learn from this review that will inform future research in this area? Based on our review, a universal theoretical framework that integrates both work—family conflict and facilitation is provided. Future research directions are also discussed.