Relationships between time management, control, work-family conflict, and strain

Area of Science:

• Organizational Psychology
• Work-Life Balance Studies
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Work-family conflict is a significant issue impacting employee well-being and job satisfaction.
• Time management is increasingly recognized as a crucial factor in navigating work and personal life demands.
• Existing research highlights the need for integrated models explaining the mechanisms linking time management to work-family conflict.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and test a model integrating time management behaviors with work-family conflict.
• To examine the direct and indirect effects of time management on work interference with family (WIF) and family interference with work (FIW).
• To investigate the relationship between work-family conflict and strain outcomes, specifically job dissatisfaction and health complaints.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative study was conducted with a sample of 522 workers.
• Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized relationships.
• Data were collected on time management behaviors, perceived control of time, work-family conflict, job dissatisfaction, and health complaints.

Main Results:

• Three types of time management behaviors were found to have significant direct and indirect relationships with work-family conflict.
• Perceived control of time partially mediated the relationship between time management behaviors and work-family conflict.
• Both work interference with family and family interference with work were positively related to job dissatisfaction and health complaints.

Conclusions:

• Time management strategies are effective in mitigating work-family conflict.
• Enhancing perceived control over time is a key mechanism through which time management influences work-family balance.
• Reducing work-family conflict through improved time management can lead to better job satisfaction and health outcomes for employees.