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Episodic work-family conflict and strain: A dynamic perspective
Kimberly A French1, Tammy D Allen2
1School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology.
Work-family conflict episodes trigger immediate psychological and physiological changes. Accumulating conflict can lead to increased negative affect and blood pressure, impacting overall well-being.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Occupational Health
- Stress and Coping
Background:
- Extensive research exists on work-family conflict (WFC) and its correlates.
- A precise understanding of the immediate effects of WFC episodes on daily strain remains elusive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the episodic changes in psychological and physiological strain during and after WFC episodes.
- To examine the influence of both work-to-family (WTC) and family-to-work (FTC) conflict on daily strain patterns.
Main Methods:
- Employed a growth modeling, episodic approach to analyze daily strain patterns.
- Utilized stressor-strain and allostatic load theories.
- Measured psychological strains (fatigue, negative affect) and physiological strains (heart rate, blood pressure).
Main Results:
- WTC episodes showed acute changes in psychological strain.
- FTC episodes elicited mixed reactions: decreased fatigue and heart rate, but increased negative affect.
- Accumulated FTC was linked to decreased fatigue, increased negative affect, and elevated systolic blood pressure.
- Negative mood was found to predict subsequent WFC occurrence.
Conclusions:
- WFC episodes have discernible short-term psychological and physiological consequences.
- The accumulation of daily WFC significantly impacts strain levels.
- Findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of the WFC-strain relationship.
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