Work-family conflict, perceived control, and health, family, and wealth: A 20-year study

• Published in: Journal of vocational behavior 2021-06, Vol.127, p.103562, Article 103562
• Main Authors: Li, Andrew, Shaffer, Jonathan A., Wang, Zhonghao, Huang, Jason L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation theory; Climate change; Conservation of resources; Families & family life; Family owned businesses; Perceived control; Polls & surveys; Self esteem; Work life balance; Work-family conflict
• ISSN: 0001-8791; 1095-9084
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jvb.2021.103562

Most studies to date have treated work-family conflict (WFC) as a static construct, typically using WFC measures collected at a single point in time to predict other variables either in the same data collection or in a follow-up collection. Drawing on conservation of resources theory, we used panel data spanning approximately 20 years to test a model in which the long-term relations between WFC change and four well-being variables—perceived health, self-esteem, income, and family support—are mediated by change in perceived control. Our results suggest that family-to-work conflict (FIW) change, but not work-to-family conflict (WIF) change, over a period of ten years was negatively associated with change in perceived control over 20 years. Change in perceived control in turn predicted lower levels of perceived health, self-esteem, income, and family support at the end of the 20-year period. We found little support for a proposition based on adaptation theory that initial levels of WFC are positively associated with subsequent levels of well-being. •Family-to-work conflict (FIW) change was related to perceived control change.•Perceived control change was related to health, self-esteem, income, and family support.•Perceived control change mediated the relationship between FIW change and health, self-esteem, income, and family support.