Special issue on Work and family: multi-level perspectives

Citation

Marsh, R. (2007), "Special issue on Work and family: multi-level perspectives", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 22 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/jmp.2007.05022aaa.002

Special issue on Work and family: multi-level perspectives

Guest EditorsNoreen Heraty University of Limerick, IrelandMichael J. Morley University of Limerick, IrelandJeanette N. Cleveland The Pennsylvania State University, USA

Work-family relationships are complex and multidimensional and remain an important ongoing academic and social policy area that require multidisciplinary and multi-level investigation and collaboration. Growing out of research on inter-role conflict (Kahn et al., 1964) historically work family research has tended to focus on relationships between specific work and family variables and usually from either a family focused or a work focused perspective. Here, the debate continues with respect to the perceived ability of individuals to control stressors stemming from these two domains. In their review of 190 work-family studies published in IO/OB, Eby et al. (2005, p. 180) note that, while there is a growing body of research to suggest that work and family can positively influence one another, there is far more that points to a negative spillover in terms of work-family conflict.

Against this backdrop, there is an ongoing concern that progress in the work family research area has been somewhat restricted and may have failed to take sufficient account of the complexity of work-family issues. Voydanoff (1988, 2005) calls for a better reconceptualisation of the work family field (to include non-paid work and non-traditional family structures) and better measures of work-family fit and balance; Kossek and Ozeki (1998) similarly call for more consistency and robustness in measurement, and better sampling techniques; Barnett and Hyde (2001) call for new ways of thinking about the work-family interface which Rotondo et al. (2003) describe as a permeable boundary; while Zedeck and Mosier (1990) and Frone (2003) highlight developments in organizational strategies and policies for promoting work-family balance at the individual and organizational level. Moreover, there appears to be a dearth of research that focuses on the larger macro societal level within which work and family domains exist and which can play a highly influential role in the work-family interface.

Adopting a multi-level perspective encompassing social, organizational and individual perspectives, this Special Issue of the Journal of Managerial Psychology seeks conceptual papers, empirical papers, case studies and critical commentaries focusing on, but not limited to, the following topics:

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  theoretical frameworks used to explain work-family linkages;

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  social, demographics and work-family issues (e.g. sandwiched generation, work-family issues across the life span);

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  organizational supports for work-family assistance including organizational responsiveness, strategies and policies aimed at balancing work and family;

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  definitional and measurement dilemmas within work and family regarding boundaries of work (e.g. traditional, virtual, telework) and family diversity (e.g. singles, traditional two parent, blended, adoptive, single parents and so forth);

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  work-family interaction including work-family conflict/work-non-work conflict; predictors, consequences and influence of work-family conflict;

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  health and wellness including general well-being, work related psychological wellness (burnout and adjustment) and spillover effects of role stress;

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  career and job-related outcomes including work attitudes, performance, withdrawal and disengagement;

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  gender and diversity in work-family interactions including work-family conflict, stress, career outcomes, work attitudes and values.

Submission requirements

The deadline for electronic submissions of between 5,000 and 7,000 words is 16 March 2007. Please submit to Kay Sutcliffe, Editorial Administration at: ksutcliffe@emeraldinsight.com stating that the paper is for consideration in the Journal of Managerial Psychology Special Issue on "Work and family: multi level perspectives."

For additional details please contact any of the

Guest Editors:

Dr Noreen Heraty, Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick, National Tech. Park, Limerick, Ireland. (E-mail: noreen.heraty@ul.ie)

Dr Michael J. Morley, Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick, National Tech. Park, Limerick, Ireland. (E-mail: michael.morley@ul.ie)

Prof. Jeanette N. Cleveland, Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. (E-mail: janc@psu.edu)