Putting work and family experiences in context: Differences by family life stage

Keywords

family life course, work-family conflict, work-family fit, work-family interface

Abstract

This study explores how individuals across six family life stages (before children, transition to parenthood, youngest child preschool-age, youngest child school-age, youngest child adolescent, and empty nest) differ in their experience of the work—family interface. Data come from a global IBM work and life issues survey (N = 41,769). Structural equation modeling was used to compare employees from six family life stages on work role factors (job hours, job responsibility, job flexibility) and family role factors (household work hours, marital status), and their relationships to work—family conflict, family—work conflict, work—family fit and four personal success measures. Meaningful differences in the means and size of the relationships among variables across family life stages provided empirical evidence of a ‘life course’ for the work—family interface influenced by differential exposure and differential effects of work and family role demands.

Original Publication Citation

Erickson, J.J., Martinengo, G., & Hill, E. J. (2010). Putting work and family experiences in context: Differences by family life stage. Human Relations. 63(7), 955-979. doi: 10.1177/0018726709353138.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2010-04-09

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/5120

Publisher

Human relations

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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