Role conflict and work/family spillover: Comparing academic and nonacademic multiple role women.

Abstract

Due to the rapidly increasing number of employed mothers, the interface between individuals' work and non-work experiences has become an area of increased scientific and societal concern. The goals of the present investigation were (1) to examine the work/family interface of multiple role women in terms of inter-role spillover, and to use a relevant occupational distinction (academic vs business career) to explore occupation-related spillover differences, and (2) to clarify and elaborate the underlying spillover processes that might account for those differences. Furthermore, to achieve these goals the present investigation sought to refine extant conceptualizations of spillover and to develop specific measures of interactive spillover stress and strain, as well as positive and negative general spillover perceptions. Approximately 200 midwestern married women professionals with preschool age children were interviewed four times over a 12 month period. Self-report information from 140 of their husbands was obtained twice over this period. Structural equations modeling of change scores was used to reduce spurious effects and enhance causal inferences. Results indicate that the academic women generally report more spillover stress and strain, as well as positive spillover, than the business women. Spillover stress/strain from work to family and relaxation appeared to be partially determined by the extent of open-ended work projects. Several spillover effects on domain-specific (e.g., job, marriage, parenting) satisfaction, strain and problems, as well as on overall depression were also found. Furthermore, women's work-based spillover was linked to their husband's depression/well-being. Finally, advantageous and disadvantageous personality styles (Learned Resourcefulness and Type A, respectively) were linked to spillover stress and strain, as well as to occupation. Results also provided insights into the relationships among various spillover factors, e.g., between positive and negative spillover, as well as strong evidence that fundamental spillover processes do not differ by occupation. Overall, these results provide a more direct and refined perspective on spillover experiences, spillover processes and differences between multiple role academic and business women. Implications for spillover coping and future research are discussed.