The work-family interface and its correlates : integrating variable and person oriented approaches

Abstract

The aim of this research was to examine key correlates of the interaction between work and family in one Nordic country, Finland, using a person- oriented and variable-oriented approach. The correlates that were chosen and examined over the course of three studies were job control and work-family boundary management styles, turnover intention, core self-evaluations, and vigor at work. Study I was part of a 2-year longitudinal study which was conducted in two Finnish universities (n = 700); Study II consisted of two samples, one of university employees (University 1, n = 666; University 2, n = 644), and the other of nurses (n = 301) from one healthcare district in Finland; and Study III used the same sample as in Study I. The findings of this research provide evidence that vigor at work leads to work-family enrichment by creating a positive mood in individuals that is transferable from work to family. The findings also suggest that enriching family life through work experiences can, in turn, lead to greater vigor at work. Although, no reciprocal relations were found between work-family enrichment and core self-evaluations when using variable oriented analyses, a person-oriented analysis showed that individuals who are better at managing their work and family domains make positive self-evaluations. The results also showed the importance that individuals attach to boundary characteristics in managing the work-family interface, suggesting that perceived situational constraints or opportunities (ability) and personal motivation (willingness) can be useful components in predicting a positive or negative work-family interface. Furthermore, the results showed that a combination of high work-family enrichment and low work- family conflict can result in beneficial outcomes, while low enrichment and high conflict would have the opposite effect.