Effects of work-to-family conflict on job satisfaction and reparative behaviors

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the indirect impact of work-to-family conflict (WFC) on job satisfaction and reparative behaviors toward family members through work-to-family guilt (WFG). In addition, it seeks to explore the moderating effect of intrinsic motivation on the relationship between WFC and WFG.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted two studies. Study 1 used a scenario-based experiment to investigate the mediating effect of WFG. Study 2 examined all the proposed hypotheses via survey data.

Findings

Study 1 revealed that WFC had a negative effect on job satisfaction. Concurrently, it exerted a positive impact on reparative behavioral intentions toward family members through WFG. Subsequently, Study 2 demonstrated that intrinsic motivation moderated the relationship between WFC and guilt. Furthermore, it also moderated the indirect effect of WFC on job satisfaction through WFG. Moreover, a positive relationship between WFG and reparative behaviors existed only among nontraditional men.

Originality/value

This study enriches existing literature on WFG by clarifying its impact on reparative behaviors toward family members. Moreover, it contributes to the contingent view of the source attribution perspective by highlighting intrinsic motivation as a significant boundary condition in the source attribution process.

Citation

Dong, N., Zhang, M. and Livingston, B.A. (2024), "Effects of work-to-family conflict on job satisfaction and reparative behaviors", Chinese Management Studies, Vol. 18 No. 2, pp. 575-589. https://doi.org/10.1108/CMS-01-2023-0013