Work-family conflict and withdrawal behavior among mainland China's IT employees: the mediating role of emotional exhaustion and moderating role of job autonomy

Reducing Work Withdrawal Behaviors When Faced with Work Obstacles: A Three-Way Interaction Model

Work withdrawal behavior is a type of negative reaction when employees face obstacles at work. Its negative impact on individuals and organizations has caught the attention of academic circles and managers. In this study, data from 596 full-time employees were collected using two timepoint measurements one month apart. The internal mechanism of the link between obstructive stress and job withdrawal behavior was analyzed, and the combined effects of work control and cognitive flexibility on the negative effects of obstructive stress were analyzed in terms of the work demand-control-personal model. The results showed that negative work rumination played a complete mediating role between obstructive stress and work withdrawal behavior, and cognitive flexibility, obstructive stress, and work control had a significant three-way interaction. The results suggest that more attention should be paid to the role of employee cognition to avoid employees' withdrawal behavior in the face of work obstacles. In addition, when providing work resources to employees, the organization should also consider ensuring that work resources can be fully utilized to play a positive role in buffering work obstacles.

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.