Satisfaction with work-family balance among employed graduate students: Why support may matter more than conflict.

摘要

Previous research suggests that work-family conflict is associated with negative attitudinal and health outcomes. However, few empirical studies have examined the ways in which employee work-family conflict may also decrease another important attitude, satisfaction with work-family balance. Drawing upon role theory and the Conservation of Resources (COR) model, the current paper examined prospective antecedents and outcomes of perceived satisfaction with work-family balance among 523 graduate student employees. Results indicated that work-family conflict mediated and moderated the demands-satisfaction relationship, and that mentor work-family support affected how work-family conflict influenced satisfaction with work-family balance. Results suggest that graduate student satisfaction with work-family balance is affected in several ways, and that mentors who are supportive of their proteges' work-family situations may enhance graduate student satisfaction---even in the face of conflict. Study limitations and practical implications are discussed.