Profiles of attribution of importance to life roles and their implications for the work–family conflict.

Cluster analysis identified 3 groups of individuals who differed systematically on attributions of relative importance to work and to family roles. Participants were 213 married computer workers and lawyers, 126 men and 87 women. Questionnaires gathered data on attributions of importance to life roles, work-family conflict, spousal and managerial support, and flexibility of working hours. In addition to variation between members of the 3 profiles for level of work-family conflict, differences were also found for age, hours working at job and home, and spousal support. Findings also indicated meaningful differences between the profiles for 2 types of conflict: work → family and family → work. Results suggest that simultaneous analysis of relative importance attributed to life roles enables more precise understanding of work-family conflict.

[1]  J. Russell,et al.  The relationships among family domain variables and work-family conflict for men and women☆ , 1989 .

[2]  Lynda A. King,et al.  Relationships of job and family involvement, family social support, and work-family conflict with job and life satisfaction , 1996 .

[3]  Jeffrey H. Greenhaus,et al.  Sources of work-family conflict among two-career couples , 1989 .

[4]  E. Kelloway,et al.  The source, nature, and direction of work and family conflict: a longitudinal investigation. , 1999, Journal of occupational health psychology.

[5]  Stephen Marks,et al.  Patterns of Commitment to Work and Parenting: Implications for Role Strain-Comment/reply , 1994 .

[6]  Karen S. Markel,et al.  Developing and Testing an Integrative Model of the Work–Family Interface , 1997 .

[7]  M. L. Cooper,et al.  Antecedents and outcomes of work-family conflict: testing a model of the work-family interface. , 1992, The Journal of applied psychology.

[8]  Jean E. Wallace.  It's about time: A study of hours worked and work spillover among law firm lawyers. , 1997 .

[9]  Barbara A. Gutek,et al.  Women and work : an annual review , 1985 .

[10]  Tammy D. Allen,et al.  Consequences associated with work-to-family conflict: a review and agenda for future research. , 2000 .

[11]  Yuen Chi-Ching.  The Effects of Career Salience and Life-Cycle Variables on Perceptions of Work-Family Interfaces , 1995 .

[12]  J. Kerpelman,et al.  Young Adults' Anticipated Identity Importance of Career, Marital, and Parental Roles: Comparisons of Men and Women with Different Role Balance Orientations , 1999 .

[13]  Leslie B. Hammer,et al.  Work–Family Conflict in Dual-Earner Couples: Within-Individual and Crossover Effects of Work and Family , 1997 .

[14]  D. Super.  A life-span, life-space approach to career development , 1980 .

[15]  L. Brooks,et al.  Career choice and development: Applying contemporary theories to practice (2nd ed.). , 1986 .

[16]  E. Miles,et al.  Interrole Conflicts and the Permeability of Work and Family Domains: Are There Gender Differences? , 1997 .

[17]  E. Kossek,et al.  Work–family conflict, policies, and the job–life satisfaction relationship: A review and directions for organizational behavior–human resources research. , 1998 .

[18]  L. Pearlin,et al.  Structural contexts of sex differences in stress. , 1987 .

[19]  R. G. Cinamon,et al.  Gender Differences in the Importance of Work and Family Roles: Implications for Work–Family Conflict , 2002 .

[20]  F. Borgen,et al.  Applying Cluster Analysis in Counseling Psychology Research. , 1987 .

[21]  P. Voydanoff,et al.  Work role characteristics, family structure demands, and work/family conflict. , 1988 .

[22]  G. Staines,et al.  The Impact of Work Schedules on the Family , 1983 .

[23]  Wayne A. Hochwarter,et al.  Value attainment: an explanation for the negative effects of work-family conflict on job and life satisfaction. , 1999, Journal of occupational health psychology.

[24]  K. A. Burley,et al.  Gender Differences and Similarities in Coping Responses to Anticipated Work-Family Conflict , 1994, Psychological reports.

[25]  Benson Rosen,et al.  Family Friendly Human Resource Policies, Salary Levels, and Salient Identity as Predictors of Organizational Attraction , 1997 .

[26]  Jeffrey H. Greenhaus,et al.  Sources and conflict between work and family roles. , 1985 .

[27]  L. Biener,et al.  Gender and Stress , 1987 .

[28]  Laura L. Beauvais,et al.  When Work–Family Benefits Are Not Enough: The Influence of Work–Family Culture on Benefit Utilization, Organizational Attachment, and Work–Family Conflict☆☆☆★ , 1999 .

[29]  Nicholas J. Beutell,et al.  Work and Family Variables, Entrepreneurial Career Success, and Psychological Well-Being , 1996 .

[30]  R. Burke,et al.  Work-family conflict, spouse support, and nursing staff well-being during organizational restructuring. , 1999, Journal of occupational health psychology.

[31]  B. Gutek,et al.  Rational versus gender role explanations for work-family conflict. , 1991 .

[32]  R. Simon,et al.  Parental role strains, salience of parental identity and gender differences in psychological distress. , 1992, Journal of health and social behavior.

[33]  E. Cook.  Role Salience and Multiple Roles: A Gender Perspective. , 1994 .

[34]  Joseph G. Grzywacz,et al.  Family, Work, Work‐Family Spillover, and Problem Drinking During Midlife , 2000 .

[35]  Tamao Matsui,et al.  Work-Family Conflict and the Stress-Buffering Effects of Husband Support and Coping Behavior among Japanese Married Working Women , 1995 .

[36]  M. Barrera,et al.  Using cluster analysis to assess the effects of stressful life events: Probing the impact of parental alcoholism on child stress and substance use , 1998 .

[37]  E. Amatea,et al.  Assessing the Work and Family Role Expectations of Career-Oriented Men and Women: The Life Role Salience Scales. , 1986 .

[38]  D. Ganster,et al.  Impact of family-supportive work variables on work-family conflict and strain: A control perspective. , 1995 .