Work-Family Conflict, Positive Spillover, and Emotions among Asian American Working Mothers

Abstract

Despite the robust body of literature on work-family experiences among European American families in the US and Asian families in East Asia, there is a lack of empirical research on Asian American women’s experiences in managing work and family roles. Drawing from models of work-family conflict, recent trends in studying positive experiences, and the inclusion of socio-cultural factors in emerging cross-cultural studies, the present project explores the interconnection between work-family experiences, acculturation, and well-being among Asian American working mothers with young children. The study sample consisted of 157 ethnically diverse participants, who completed an online survey on work-family experience. The study was unique in its examination of both negative and positive work-family outcomes and utilization of empirical measures as well as open-ended questions.

Results supported the presence of both unique and shared antecedents for both directions of work-family conflict and positive spillover for Asian American mothers. Specifically, they emphasized the importance of role qualities in predicting negative work-family outcomes and the significant role played by acculturation and enculturation in positive work-family outcomes. Role interdependence was found to be a potential mediator between acculturation/enculturation and positive outcomes whereas gender role ideology and extended familial support moderated the relationship between positive spillover and positive emotions. In addition, participants’ responses to open-ended questions provided qualitative information on the challenges and rewards of juggling work and family roles. Taken together, these results highlighted the value of socio-cultural variables (e.g. acculturation/enculturation, role interdependence, and gender role ideology), especially in our understanding of positive work-family spillover and emotions among Asian American working mothers. Implications for clinical, organizational, and policy-making contexts and the limitations of these findings were discussed.