Work-Family Conflict and Job and Family Satisfaction. The Mediating Role of Cognitions

Although the relationship between work-family conflict and different forms of satisfaction was addressed by numerous studies, the correlational nature of this data does not allow for causal conclusions. Relying on the ABC model in the cognitive-behavioral paradigm and using an experimental design, the purpose of this study consists of analyzing the effects of work-family/familywork conflict on job and family satisfaction, as well as irrational/rational cognitions as mediators in the relationship between conflict and satisfaction. On a sample of 192 participants, ANOVA, MANOVA, regression analyses and structural equation modeling were performed in order to test the hypotheses about the direct and indirect relationships between the variables. The direction of the conflict significantly influenced job and family satisfaction and the mediation hypothesis is partially supported: cognitions mediate the relationship between the direction of the conflict and family satisfaction, but do not mediate the relationship between the direction of the conflict and job satisfaction. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd.