Managing work and family: Do control strategies help?

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Balancing competing work and family obligations is a significant challenge for many individuals.
• Understanding effective coping strategies is crucial for maintaining well-being amidst work-life conflict.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine control strategies, specifically lowered aspirations and positive reappraisals, in managing work-life balance.
• To investigate the relationship between negative spillover, control strategies, and well-being in full-time working adults.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Midlife in the United States Survey (MIDUS II) with a nationally representative sample (N = 2,091).
• Employed statistical analyses to explore moderating effects of control strategies on work-family spillover and well-being.

Main Results:

• Positive reappraisals acted as a protective buffer against negative work-family spillover.
• Lowered aspirations exacerbated the negative impact of work-family spillover on well-being.
• These moderating effects were found to be stronger among women.

Conclusions:

• The findings highlight the differential impact of control strategies on work-life balance and well-being.
• Suggests that while positive reappraisals are beneficial, lowered aspirations may be detrimental.
• Calls for further research into effective resources and coping strategies for work-life integration.