Consequences of Work-Life Conflict
In their meta-analysis, Kossek and Ozeki (1998) found that regardless of type of measure used, a consistent negative relationship exists between WLC and (reduced) life and
Table 14.2 Predictors of W → LC and L → WC (see Michel et al., 2011, for details)
| Variable | How It Affects W → LCa | How It Affects L → WCa |
| Work role stressors | ||
| “Global” job stressors | Increasesa | Increases |
| Work role overload | Increasesa | Increases |
| Work role conflict | Increasesa | Increases |
| Work time demands | Increases | |
| Work role ambiguity | Increases | Increases |
| Work role involvement | ||
| Job involvement | Increases | |
| Work in terest/centrality | Increases | |
| Social support in work role | ||
| Organizational support | Decreasesa | Decreases |
| Supervisor support | Decreases | Decreases |
| Coworker support | Decreases | Decreases |
| Work characteristics | ||
| Task variety | Increases | |
| Job autonomy | Decreases | |
| “Family friendliness” | Decreases | |
| Role stressors in the family/life domain | ||
| Global family stressors | Increasesa | Increasesa |
| Family role conflict | Increasesa | Increasesa |
| Family role overload | Increases | Increasesa |
| Family role ambiguity | Increases | Increases |
| Family in terest/centrality | Decreases | |
| Family time demands | Increases | |
| Parental demands | Increases | |
| Number of dependents | Increases | |
| Social support in the family/life domain | ||
| Family su pport | Decreases | Decreases |
| Spousal su pport | Decreases | Decreases |
| Family c limate | Decreasesa | Decreases |
a Indicates moderate to larger effects (ρ ≥. 30).
job satisfaction.
Ford et al. (2007) found that 7% of the variance in (family)life satisfaction was related to variables in the work domain and that 7% of the variance in work satisfaction was related to variables in the (family)life domain. While this may initially be seen as a small effect, it is indeed important given all the variables related to work and life satisfaction. Consequences for individual mental health resulting from WLC include anxiety, life stress, psychological strain, increased health risks for employed parents, poorer performance of the parenting role, psychological burnout, and lower mental health to include clinical depression (for summary review, see Greenhaus et al.,2006). Regarding physical health, Greenhaus et al. (2006) further note that a large number of studies investigate general reports of physical health symptoms. Researchers also examine the relationship between WLC and behaviors that increase health problems, such as substance dependence in multiple forms (e.g., drugs, prescription medications, alcohol, smoking), as well as decreased physical activity and poor (fatty) food choices (see Allen & Armstrong, 2006; Greenhaus et al., 2006).
Although we have talked about the causes and consequences of WLC separately, research indicates that these processes are more complex; the causes and consequences are interconnected in a dualistic relationship. Furthermore, as Kelly et al. (2008) note, “While the field has devoted most of its attention to the strains that often arise from managing both work and family[life] roles, recently there has been more attention to the benefits of combining work and family responsibilities” (p. 311).