For many young women, the transition from late childhood to early adulthood is a challenging time (Arnett, 2000). It is a time spent exploring different career opportunities and relationships and considering future family aspirations. Thinking about one’s future work and family can evoke many concerns amongst emerging adults, especially female students who plan to pursue demanding careers. This is a global phenomenon and South African female students are no exception (Bagraim & Harrison, 2013). Anticipated work-family conflict (AWFC) has received some attention amongst researchers due to the potential impact AWFC can have on students’ decision making (Barnett, Gareis, James, & Steele, 2003; Coyle, Van Leer, Schroeder, & Fulcher, 2015; Michael, Most, & Cinamon, 2011; Westring & Ryan, 2011). Over the past few decades, there has been a global increase in women entering the workforce (Blau & Kahn, 2007; Goldin, 2014). This has resulted in an increase in dual-earner families as both men and women have become co-breadwinners. Despite a shift in shared work responsibilities, many women still feel that taking care of their family is their primary responsibility (Askari, Liss, Erchull, Staebell, & Axelson, 2010). The added pressure that women experience in balancing both work and family domains highlights the importance of better equipping female students with the necessary resources and support as they transition into early adulthood. Not all students experience the same levels of AWFC (Barnett et al., 2003; Coyle et al., 2015). Identifying the key contributors to students’ AWFC has therefore generated a small body of research, which still requires further development. The limited research on students’ perceptions of the work-family interface includes research on several influencing factors, such as gender (e.g. Weer, Greenhaus, Colakoglu, & Foley, 2006); maternal employment (Barnett et al., 2003; Weer et al., 2006), parental education (O'Shea & Kirrane, 2008), self-efficacy to manage future work-family conflict (Cinamon, 2006) and parental role sharing of childcare and housework (Cinamon, 2006). A common thread across the literature is the influence of parents on their children’s perceptions of work and family. Socialisation into the work-family interface begins from early childhood and continues beyond adolescence, with parents shaping their children’s views of work and family life (Levine & Hoffner, 2006; Wiese & Freund, 2011).

The individual's ability to balance between family and work depends on social support from the individual's environment. Social support has been shown to be an important source for an individual's well-being. The purpose of this study was to study Family-to-Work Conflict (FWC) in Sweden in order to discover: which preferences have participants regarding the sources of social support during the FWC: society, family, work? A questionnaire based on the WAFCS scale was answered by 350 participants between 18-65 years who were living in Sweden, of whom 172 women. Participants reported a low level of FWC, partly explained by their life priorities and social support from the society. Despite this they did not consider society as a primary source of support. Results showed that the family is no longer a single cause for the FWC but accepted by the participants as an important supportive source. During the study gender and age-related differences were also found.

Young women today are anticipating involvement in both career and family. The competing demands of family and work often result in work-family conflict. A survey was administered to 124 female college students exploring the importance they place on work and family roles, the expectations they have for combining these roles, and their attitudes toward planning for multiple roles. Identity theory provides a foundation for understanding the choices women make regarding their anticipated participation in work and family roles. The results suggest that although college women are expecting to have demanding careers and involved family lives, they are not planning realistically in order to facilitate the combining of career and family roles with a minimum of conflict.

This study examined work-family conflict as a predictor of burnout as well as the moderating role that optimism and pessimism may have had on this relationship. Participants were call centre employees from a financial institution in Cape Town (N = 94). Cross-sectional data was collected via electronic self-report questionnaires. Exploratory factor analysis demonstrated the unidimensionality of work-to-family conflict despite the two-dimensional model that was expected. Bivariate regression analysis showed that work-to-family conflict explained a significant proportion of the variance in both dimensions of burnout – emotional exhaustion and cynicism. Contrary to what was expected, the results of the moderation analyses were not significant. Optimism and pessimism did not moderate the relationship between work-to-family conflict and burnout. The results show that work-to-family conflict negatively affects call centre employees' well-being. The results are discussed and implications for management and suggestions for future research are presented.

Based on the theoretical perspectives of role strain theory and the spillover model, we examined the association between job demands and employed fathers’ involvement of single-income and dual-income families in South Korea (Korea hereafter). In addition, we examined the mediating role of work to family conflict in the above association. Data were collected from 201 employed fathers with at least one preschool child. We conducted multiple group structural equation modeling analysis using employed fathers in single-income family group (n = 100) and dual-income family group (n = 101). The results showed that job demands were negatively associated with fathers’ involvement, and this association was mediated by work to family conflict among Korean fathers in both single- and dual-income family groups. Findings indicate that regardless of wives’ employment status, job demands are related to fathers’ involvement, and this association is mediated by work to family conflict. Consequently, we suggest that alleviating employed fathers’ job demands and work to family conflict are key factors increasing fathers’ involvement. Therefore, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers are required to improve employed fathers’ work environments in order to support their familial well-being. Future research may consider a more representative sample with various sources of data collection.

Based on the theoretical perspectives of role strain theory and the spillover model, we examined the association between job demands and employed fathers’ involvement of single-income and dual-income families in South Korea (Korea hereafter). In addition, we examined the mediating role of work to family conflict in the above association. Data were collected from 201 employed fathers with at least one preschool child. We conducted multiple group structural equation modeling analysis using employed fathers in single-income family group (n = 100) and dual-income family group (n = 101). The results showed that job demands were negatively associated with fathers’ involvement, and this association was mediated by work to family conflict among Korean fathers in both single- and dual-income family groups. Findings indicate that regardless of wives’ employment status, job demands are related to fathers’ involvement, and this association is mediated by work to family conflict. Consequently, we suggest that alleviating employed fathers’ job demands and work to family conflict are key factors increasing fathers’ involvement. Therefore, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers are required to improve employed fathers’ work environments in order to support their familial well-being. Future research may consider a more representative sample with various sources of data collection.

Tyrimo tikslas – įvertinti pozityvią ir negatyvią darbo ir šeimos vaidmenų sąveiką bei jos ryšius su pasitenkinimu darbu ir vertybinėmis orientacijomis. Tyrime dalyvavo 208 tiriamieji iš Kauno, Vilniaus ir Prienų miestų bei rajonų organizacijų. Visi tiriamieji turėjo sutuoktinį/-ę (partnerį/-ę) ir/arba vaikų. Darbo ir šeimos vaidmenų sąveika buvo tiriama „Darbo-namų sąveikos klausimynu“ (SWING), pasitenkinimas darbu vertintas P.E. Spector „Pasitenkinimo darbu klausimynu“ (JSS), o vertybinės orientacijos - Rokičiaus „Vertybinių orientacijų tyrimo“ metodika. Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, kad darbo ir šeimos vaidmenų sąveika yra susijusi su pasitenkinimu darbu. Kuo dažniau patiriamas darbo ir šeimos vaidmenų konfliktas, tuo mažesnis darbuotojų pasitenkinimas darbu. Pozityvi darbo ir šeimos vaidmenų sąveika yra teigiamai susijusi tik su tam tikrais pasitenkinimo darbu aspektais: bendradarbiais, paaukštinimo galimybėmis, vadovavimu ir darbo pobūdžiu. Darbo ir šeimos vertybinės orientacijos taip pat yra susijusios su darbo ir šeimos vaidmenų sąveika. Kuo individui svarbesnė šeimos vertybinė orientacija, tuo rečiau jis patiria darbo ir šeimos vaidmenų konfliktą. Kuo jam svarbesnė darbo vertybinė orientacija, tuo dažniau jis patiria pozityvią darbo ir šeimos vaidmenų sąveiką. Taip pat buvo analizuojama galima vertybinių orientacijų kaip moderatoriaus įtakata darbo ir šeimos vaidmenų konflikto bei pasitenkinimo darbu ryšiui, tačiau tyrimo rezultatai šios galimybės nepatvirtino. / The aim of the study was to evaluate positive and negative interaction of work and family domains and its’ relations with job satisfaction and value orientations. The subjects of the study were 208 men and women from Kaunas, Vilnius and Prienai towns and districts. All participants were currently working and had a spouse/partner and/or children. Work anf family interaction was measured by „Survey Work-Home Interaction“ (SWING), job satisfaction was evaluated according to Spector‘s „Job Satisfaction Survey“ (JSS) and value orientations were measured using Rokeach‘s „Value Orientations Survey“. Results of the study showed that work and family interaction is related to job satisfaction. The more often work and family conflict is experienced, the lower is emploees’ job satisfaction. Work and family facilitation is related to some aspects of job satisfaction aswell. The more often work and family facilitation is experienced, the higher is satisfaction of coworkers, management, nature of work and promotion possibilities. Value orientations are also related to work and family interaction. The more important is family value orientation to individual, the less work and family conflict is experienced. And the more important is work value orientation, the more work and family facilitation is experienced. Potential moderating effect of value orientatios on relation between work and family interaction and job satisfaction was also investigated but moderating effect was not comfirmed by... [to full text]

Behavioural and emotional problems in children have been linked with a number of deleterious effects for the child, their family and the community at large. Research has demonstrated that targeting parents through behavioural family interventions is an effective way of ameliorating the negative long term effects of early behaviour problems. A number of evidence-based interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing dysfunctional parenting practices and reducing the severity and intensity of behaviour problems however less than 10% of parents’ access parenting services and even fewer access evidence-based interventions. Some researchers now advocate that a population approach that emphasizes prevention rather than treatment and considers parenting in its broader ecological context is required to increase parental access to evidence-based parenting interventions and reduce population levels of disruptive behaviour problems. One important context that affects parenting is the workplace. Changing economic and demographic climates mean the majority of parents are now employed and must balance the competing demands of work and family commitments leading to increased levels of work and family conflict as functioning in one domain invariably effects functioning in the other. High levels of work and family conflict have been shown to increase psychological distress and dysfunctional parenting and are associated with a range of negative organisational outcomes such as increased turnover and absenteeism. Additionally, levels of work and family conflict are highest in parents of young children indicating that balancing work and parenting is particularly difficult at a point in a child’s life where there is greatest development plasticity. This thesis argues that one way to improve parents’ access to services and to reduce work and family conflict is to provide support to working parents in the form of a workplace parenting intervention. Such an intervention has the potential to ease the burden on working parents, increase parental access to evidence-based parenting support and reduce population levels of disruptive behaviour problems. This research comprises of a randomised controlled trial of Workplace Triple P, a variant of Triple P- Positive Parenting Program that is tailored to the specific needs of working parents. Two studies are presented. Study 1 examined the utility of a model that posits that the relationship between parental exposure to disruptive behaviour problems and occupational stress is mediated by family-work conflict. Data analyses supported the hypothesised model. The relationship between parental exposure to disruptive behaviour problems and occupational stress was fully mediated by family-work conflict. The results of this study provide a rationale for examining parenting in a workplace context by demonstrating that disruptive behaviour problems in the children of employees are related to higher levels of occupational stress and that reducing disruptive behaviour and family-work conflict should result in reductions in occupational stress. Study 2 built on the findings of Study 1 by evaluating the effectiveness of Workplace Triple P, a workplace parenting intervention that aims to assist parents to more effectively manage work and family demands. Using a sample of teachers balancing work and parenting commitments, a randomised controlled trial was conducted comparing Workplace Triple P to a waitlist control condition. Results indicated that participants who completed the Workplace Triple P intervention reported improvements in five key outcome areas: disruptive behaviour problems, parenting style and satisfaction, personal adjustment, work and family conflict and occupational wellbeing. Specifically, compared with participants in the waitlist control condition participants in the intervention condition reported that their child displayed lower numbers of disruptive behaviours and engaged in problem behaviour less frequently, that they themselves engaged less in verbose, over-reactive and lax parenting styles, that they felt more confident in dealing with a range of behaviour problems across a range of home and community settings and enjoyed parenting more. Participants in the intervention condition also reported lower levels of personal anxiety and depression. The intervention was also effective at improving work-related variables. Participants who completed the Workplace Triple P intervention reported lower levels of work-family conflict, family-work conflict and occupational stress, as well as reporting increased levels of occupational efficacy. No changes were reported for participants in the waitlist control condition. Participants in the intervention condition were reassessed at 4-months post intervention. Results indicated that all intervention gains were maintained. Together these studies contribute significantly to our understanding of work-family interface by providing insight into the mechanisms by which family life exerts an influence on occupational stress and by demonstrating that a workplace parenting intervention has the potential to improve functioning both family and occupational domains. The findings have significant implications for assisting parents more effectively manage work and family demands, for increasing parental access to services, and informing family-friendly policies and practices. Research, clinical and policy implications are discussed.

Past research has shown the likelihood of work-to-family conflict in employees' struggle to manage work, family, and personal life, however, work-to-family conflict remained unexamined in employees' job attitudes at different job levels. Previous studies highlighted that employees at higher job level experience greater work-to-family conflict than employees at lower job level. The purpose of the study was to examine the moderating effects of job level (supervisory or managerial and nonsupervisory or nonmanagerial) on the relationships between work-to-family conflict and job attitudes (job satisfaction, work engagement, organizational commitment, and turnover intention). In this quantitative study, the theoretical framework included conflict theory and role enhancement theory. A convenience sampling of 149 working adults, aged 18 years to 65 years) volunteered to participate in an online survey. Participants completed an online survey. Collected data were analyzed using regression analysis. Based on the results, job level of the working adults moderated the relationships between work-to-family conflict and job attitudes, such that the relationship between work-to-family conflict and job attitudes of the working adults was stronger at high job level than at low job level.The findings may contribute to positive social change by providing useful information for human resource and management personnel of organizations in designing job level-specific training programs (e.g., work-life balance practices) and structuring appropriate settings (e.g., alternate work locations) to take control of leading, managing or coordinating projects, tasks or events in their work situations.