Interface between work and family: A longitudinal individual and crossover perspective

Abstract

This study assessed longitudinal individual and crossover relationships between work‐family conflict and well‐being in the domains of work (job satisfaction) and family (parental distress) in a sample of 239 dual‐earner couples. The results revealed only longitudinal individual effects over a 1‐year period. First, high family‐to‐work conflict (WFC) at Time 1 was related to a high level of work‐to‐family conflict (WFC) 1 year later in both partners. Second, the wife's high level of FWC was related to her decreased job satisfaction 1 year later. Thus, the longitudinal effects identified supported normal causality, that is, work‐family conflict led to poor well‐being outcomes or increased perceived work‐family conflict later on. Longitudinal crossover effects from one partner to another were not observed within a 1‐year perspective.