Work-home conflict and facilitation across four different family structures in Norway

• Published in: Community, work & family Vol. 13; no. 2; pp. 231 - 249
• Main Authors: Innstrand, Siw Tone, Langballe, Ellen Melbye, Espnes, Geir Arild, Aasland, Olaf Gjerløw, Falkum, Erik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01-05-2010
• Subjects: autonomie; Autonomy; charge de travail; Conflict; Conflict Resolution; conflits vie professionnelle/vie privée; conservation of resources theory; Couples; facilitation vie professionnelle/vie privée; Family; Family Structure; Health; Home; Norway; One-parent families; Parenting; Role expectations; Single Parent Family; structure familiale; théorie de la conservation des ressources; Work environment; work-home conflict; work-home facilitation; Work-life balance; workload; Norway
• ISSN: 1366-8803; 1469-3615
• DOI: 10.1080/13668800903314341

The purpose of this study was to examine how work-home conflict and facilitation vary among people living in different family structures in Norway, here conceptualized as: two-parent families; single parents; childless couples; and singles. The study used data from a Norwegian study on occupational health (N=2414). We hypothesized that respondents living in two-parent families experience more work-home conflict and facilitation than others due to more complex role expectations. Similarly, we hypothesized that the effect of workload and autonomy on work-home conflict and facilitation would be stronger among this group. The results indicate that conflict between work and home life are more profound among those living in two-parent families and among single parents than among childless couples and singles. Work-to-home facilitation did not vary by family structure, whereas the childless couples reported more home-to-work facilitation. Furthermore, with a few exceptions the effects of workload and autonomy on work-home conflict and facilitation did not differ by family structure.