Family, employment, and individual resource-based antecedents of maternal work–family enrichment from infancy through middle childhood.

Abstract

This study used data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (N = 1,019) to examine family, employment, and individual antecedents of maternal work-family enrichment from infancy through middle childhood. Work-family conflict and important confounding factors were controlled. From the family domain, higher income-to-needs ratio and social support were associated with higher work-family enrichment. From the employment domain, greater job rewards, benefits of employment for children, and work commitment were associated with higher work-family enrichment. From the individual domain, higher maternal education and extroversion were associated with higher work-family enrichment. No family, employment, and individual characteristics were associated with work-family conflict across time except for partner intimacy. In general, the results supported antecedents of work-family enrichment that supply needed resources. The present study contributed to the literature by identifying antecedents of maternal work-family enrichment across early child developmental stages, which goes beyond examinations of particular life stages and a work-family conflict perspective. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Sole Mothers in the Workforce: A Systematic Review and Agenda for Future Work–Family Research

“…Four studies examined work-family interactions in sole mothers only (Ahmad, Baba, & Hassan, 2009;Ahmad & Ngah, 2011;Bull & Mittelmark, 2008;Ciabattari, 2007). Six studies included partnered and/or married mothers only (Ahmad, 1996;Braunstein-Bercovitz, Frish-Burstein, & Benjamin, 2012;Killien, Habermann, & Jarrett, 2001;Mulvaney, McNall, & Morrissey, 2011;Noor, 2004;Zhou & Buehler, 2016). Fourteen studies included both sole and partnered mothers (Baxter & Alexander, 2008;Bull & Mittelmark, 2009;Carlson et al, 2011;Casper, Martin, Buffardi, & Erdwins, 2002;Cooklin et al, 2015;Dziak et al, 2010;Frone, Barnes, & Farrell, 1994;Lawson, Davis, McHale, Hammer, & Buxton, 2014;Losonz & Bortolotto, 2009;Marshall, Tracey, Orthner, & Rose, 2009;McManus et al, 2002;Minnotte, 2012;Opie & Henn, 2013;Williams, Suls, Alliger, Learner, & Wan, 1991).…”

“…Fourteen studies included both sole and partnered mothers (Baxter & Alexander, 2008;Bull & Mittelmark, 2009;Carlson et al, 2011;Casper, Martin, Buffardi, & Erdwins, 2002;Cooklin et al, 2015;Dziak et al, 2010;Frone, Barnes, & Farrell, 1994;Lawson, Davis, McHale, Hammer, & Buxton, 2014;Losonz & Bortolotto, 2009;Marshall, Tracey, Orthner, & Rose, 2009;McManus et al, 2002;Minnotte, 2012;Opie & Henn, 2013;Williams, Suls, Alliger, Learner, & Wan, 1991). All but two studies measured a form of WFC, three studies also measured a form of WFE (i.e., Cooklin et al, 2015;Losonz & Bortolotto, 2009;Mulvaney et al, 2011), and two studies measured a form of WFE only (Lawson et al, 2014;Zhou & Buehler, 2016).…”

“…As shown in Table 1, antecedents of WFC are broadly in groups of work, nonwork, and individual factors; 19 studies identified antecedents relating to WFC. Work-related antecedents, including organizational social support, flexibility, employer and client stressors, role overload, work hours, control of work hours, job security, and job quality were most commonly identified as significantly related to WFC (nine studies) (e.g., Ahmad, Baba, & Hassan, 2009, Almeida & Davis, 2011Baxter & Alexander, 2008;Carlson et al, 2011;Casper et al, 2002;Frone et al, 1994;Marshall et al, 2009;McManus et al, 2002;Minnotte, 2012;Mulvaney et al, 2011;Zhou & Buehler, 2016). The relationship between work-related stressors is well established in the literature (see Frone, Russell, & Cooper, 1992).…”

“…Individual factors, including locus of control, perfectionism, extraversion, negative affect, person environment congruence, neuroticism, and conscientiousness were included as explanatory variables and found to be significantly associated with WFC in five studies (e.g., Ahmad, Baba, & Hassan, 2009;Ahmad & Ngah, 2011;Braunstein-Bercovitz et al, 2012;Opie & Henn, 2013;Williams et al, 1991). Five studies examined the following non-work-related variables to be significant explanatory variables of WFC: flexibility, nonwork social support, social capitals, and maternal education (e.g., Almeida & Davis, 2011;Bull & Mittelmark, 2009;Ciabattari, 2007;Minnotte, 2012;Zhou & Buehler, 2016).…”

“…Two studies examined antecedents of WFE and reported significant positive associations between skill discretion, schedule control, job rewards, and professional status and WFE (Carlson et al, 2011;Zhou & Buehler, 2016). One study also examined antecedents within the family domain (Zhou & Buehler, 2016) and reported positive relationships between social support and WFE.…”