The Paradox of Communication Technology in the Work-family Interface

摘要

The aim of the present study was to investigate the "double-edged sword" nature of communication technology in its impact on the work-family interface. Communication technology has many wonderful advantages, one of which is the flexibility that it provides employees with where and when work is completed. The flipside, though, is that communication technology allows employees to be available and accessible at all times. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of (1) accessibility and availability through communication technology; and (2) flexibility through communication technology, on the experience of work-to-family conflict, family-to-work conflict, and work-family balance. The study utilized Conservation of Resources theory and Job-Demand Control model as its basis for examining how the relationship between work and family demands and work-family interface outcomes are impacted by the two communication technology variables of interest in this study.;Qualtrics Panels were used to recruit 405 working adults in the United States across various industries to complete an online survey. To help address single source bias, employees were asked to invite their spouse/partner to complete a survey to assess levels of work-family interface of the employee from the spouse/partner perspective. Hierarchical moderated regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses. The results indicated that employees who perceive that communication technology provided greater flexibility in the work and family domains experienced less work-to-family conflict, and family-to-work conflict, respectively. Further, employees who perceived that greater expectations to be available and accessible to others in their work and family domains experienced greater work-to-family conflict and family-to-work conflict, respectively.;Accessibility and availability expectations exacerbated the association between demands and work-to-family conflict in both the work and family domains. Communication technology flexibility was found to buffer the effect of family overload in the experience of family-to-work conflict. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings and potential directions for future research are discussed.