Role resources and work–family enrichment: The role of work engagement

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jvb.2010.06.007
• Publication Date: 2010-07-11T20:47:23Z
• Authors: Oi-ling Siu; Jia-fang Lu; Paula Brough; Chang-qin Lu; Arnold B. Bakker; Thomas Kalliath; Michael O'Driscoll; David R. Phillips; Wei-qing Chen; Danny Lo; Cindy Sit; Kan Shi
• Keywords: Job enrichment; Work Engagement; Sample (material); Supervisor; Work–family conflict

This article proposes a theoretical model of work-family enrichment and tests the mediating role of work engagement. The inclusion of work engagement extends prior research on work-family interface, and allows for examination of the effects of role resources (job resources, family support) on work-family enrichment. A two-wave survey was conducted among a matched sample of 786 employees in China. The model was tested with structural equation modeling techniques. The results showed that work engagement was the most proximal predictor of work-family enrichment. Work engagement fully mediated the relationship between family-friendly organizational policies and work-family enrichment, and also between job autonomy and family-work enrichment. Further, work engagement partially mediated the relationships between two job resources (supervisor support, job autonomy) and work-family enrichment, and also between family support and family-work enrichment. No difference was found in gender and marital status in the proposed model. Implications for future research and practices are discussed.