Work-family conflict and coping strategies adopted by female married professionals in Hong Kong

摘要

This study examined the kinds of work-family conflict experienced by female married professionals with children in Hong Kong and the coping strategies they had adopted. Data were obtained through 50 in-depth interviews. The results revealed the general ineffectiveness of coping strategies being used by married women professionals. The percentage of women who attempted to use positive coping strategies designed around job changes was low, possibly due to their reluctance in negotiating for family-friendly organizational policies. It appears that companies in Hong Kong extend little support to working mothers in managing the work-family interface. Implications of the findings for women's career progressions are also discussed in this paper.