Resource-Building Processes Across Life Domains: Father-Child Interactions as Starting Points for Resource Caravans

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Work-Life Balance Research
• Family Studies

Background:

• Understanding the interplay between work and family domains is crucial for employee well-being.
• Positive interactions in one domain may spill over into another, creating resource gains.
• The role of mood as a mediator in these cross-domain processes requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how positive father-child interactions influence resource-building processes between family and work.
• To investigate the mediating role of positive mood states in linking family and work domains.
• To explore the directionality and strength of these effects in different occupational sectors.

Main Methods:

• Two micro-longitudinal studies were conducted over eight consecutive workdays.
• Participants included fathers from the information technology and retail sectors.
• Data were collected using self-report measures, and multilevel structural equation modeling was employed in Study 2.

Main Results:

• Study 1 found that positive father-child interactions were associated with more positive mood states, which in turn were linked to perceived supervisor support.
• Study 2 indicated that positive father-child interactions after work predicted positive mood states before bed.
• Positive morning mood predicted perceived supervisor support, but the overall 'resource caravan' effect was not consistently supported across both studies.

Conclusions:

• While positive father-child interactions and mood show potential links to perceived supervisor support, the hypothesized resource caravan effect between work and family is not fully established.
• The findings suggest that positive family experiences can influence work-related resources, but the reciprocal and sustained nature of this process needs more research.
• Future research should explore boundary conditions and specific mechanisms that facilitate or hinder resource transfer between family and work domains.