When work strain transcends psychological boundaries: an inquiry into the relationship between time pressure, irritation, work-family conflict and psychosomatic complaints

摘要

Against the theoretical background of the effort-recovery model and the action regulation theory, the author presents a cross-sectional questionnaire study testing hypotheses about the relationship between work-related time pressure, cognitive and emotional irritation, work-family conflict and psychosomatic complaints. Subjects were 576 female home care nurses. Results of a path analysis show that the relation of time pressure and psychosomatic complaints is partially mediated by experiencing a work-family conflict; also the relation of time pressure and work-family conflict is partially mediated by cognitive and emotional irritation. It is argued that cognitive and emotional irritation are fruitful concepts for a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between work stressors and the development of strain-based work-family conflict. Implications for the prevention of work-family conflict are outlined.