Communication by IT Decreases the Negative Effects of Work-Family Conflict on Life Satisfaction and Job Satisfaction

摘要

Work - family conflict (WFC) arises when an individual's work and family roles are incompatible. It may lead to negative outcomes for workers, since it can decrease motivation and performance. As such, we need to make efforts to reduce or eliminate WFC. This study focuses on communication by information technology (CIT). Communication can motivate employees to work better, and provides a means for workers to express themselves at work and home. One of the reasons why WFC occurs is that workers do not spend enough time with family members, which can lead to a lack or absence of communication. Communication is a crucial element of family relations. CIT may help workers communicate better with their families as while they are at the workplace, workers can communicate with their families through information technology (IT) devices as needed. Thus, the quality and quantity of communication will improve, and the negative influence of WFC can be reduced. According to empirical analysis, WFC reduced the level of life satisfaction (LS) and job satisfaction (JS). In addition, CIT reduced the negative effect of WFC on LS, but it could not reduce the negative effect of WFC on JS.