Work Demands and Resources, Work-Family Conflict, and Family Functioning Among Practicing Psychologists

Does our work life influence the quality of our family life? The present study examined this question using data from 126 practicing psychologists who responded to two waves of a longitudinal study of their work and family lives. Work-family conflict (WFC) was tested as a mediator between work demands/resources (hours worked, emotional exhaustion, control, support) and family functioning. Results indicated that work demands, but not work resources, significantly predicted family functioning over time. Specifically, more hours worked and greater emotional exhaustion at Time 1 related to poorer family functioning at Time 2. WFC did not mediate these relationships, suggesting that the direct relationship of these work demands to family functioning was stronger than the relationship of WFC to family functioning.