Examining the moderating roles of job demands and resources on the relation between work engagement and work-family conflict

Recently, studies have shown that work engagement is associated with high level of work-family conflict. However, little is known about the factors that can moderate this relationship. Using job demands-resources model as a theoretical framework, this study examined the moderating roles of job demands and resources in the relation between work engagement and work-family conflict among a sample of 156 working mothers in Nigeria. Their ages ranged between 24 and 39 years (M = 34.09; SD = 7.49). Data were analyzed using moderated hierarchal regression analysis. Results showed that work engagement was positively related to work-family conflict. Job demands and resources significantly moderated the relationship between work engagement and work-family conflict, such that highly work engaged working mothers who experience high job demands with high job resources reported low work-family conflict. The findings suggest that organizations can reduce the negative effect of work engagement on work-family conflict among their employees by reducing or optimizing job demands and providing adequate job resources.