Work-to-relationship conflict: Crossover effects in dual-earner couples.

• DOI: 10.1037/1076-8998.11.3.228
• Publication Date: 2006-07-11T08:20:38Z
• Authors: Russell A. Matthews; Regan E. Del Priore; Linda K. Acitelli; Janet L. Barnes-F...
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Family Characteristics; Cross-Over Studies; Time Factors; 05 social sciences; Conflict, Psychological; Social Perception; 0502 economics and business; Humans; Family; Female; Interpersonal Relations; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences; Workplace

To better understand the outcomes for couples whose work interferes with their relationships, with an emphasis on the crossover effects that can occur in close relationships, we examined experienced work-to-relationship conflict and perceptions of partner's work-to-relationship conflict for both members of 113 dual-earner couples. Outcomes of interests included relationship tension, health symptoms, and relationship satisfaction. Results indicate that personal work-to-relationship conflict and perceptions of partner's work-to-family conflict were related to personal as well as partner outcomes; a variety of direct crossover effects were demonstrated. The actor-partner interdependence model was incorporated to account for issues of interdependent data that naturally occur in relationship dyads, a methodological issue not typically addressed and accounted for in the dyadic work-family interface literature.