Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Work–Family Conflict and Couple Relationship Quality: A Meta-analytic Study

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Journal of Family and Economic Issues Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examined the association between work–family conflict and couple relationship quality. We conducted a meta-analytic review of 49 samples from 33 papers published between 1986 and 2014. The results indicated that there was a significant negative relationship between work–family conflict and couple relationship quality (r = −.19, k = 49). Several moderators were included in this analysis: gender, region, parental status, dual-earner status, and the measures used for work–family conflict and marital quality variables. The strength of the relationship varied based on the region of the sample—samples from Europe and Asia had a significantly weaker relationship between work–family conflict and relationship quality than those from North America. In addition, the relationship was significantly weaker in samples of dual-earner couples and when non-standardized scales were used. Implications of the results and directions for future research are suggested.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

References marked with an asterisk indicate studies included in the meta-analysis

  • Allen, T. D., Herst, D. E., Bruck, C. S., & Sutton, M. (2000). Consequences associated with work-to-family conflict: A review and agenda for future research. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 5, 278–308. doi:10.1037/1076-8998.5.2.278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychological Association. (1999). Standards for educational and psychological testing. Washington DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, S. E., Coffey, B. S., & Byerly, R. T. (2002). Formal organizational initiatives and informal workplace practices: Links to work-family conflict and job-related outcomes. Journal of Management, 28, 787–810. doi:10.1177/014920630202800605.

    Google Scholar 

  • *Aryee, S. (1992). Antecedents and outcomes of work-family conflict among married professional women: Evidence from Singapore. Human Relations, 45, 813–826. doi:10.1177/001872679204500804.

  • *Aryee, S. (1993). Dual-earner couples in Singapore: An examination of work and nonwork sources of their experienced burnout. Human Relations, 46, 1441–1468 doi:10.1177/001872679304601205.

  • Ayree, S., Fields, D., & Luk, V. (1999). A cross-cultural test of a model of the work-family interface. Journal of Management, 25, 491–511. doi:10.1177/014920639902500402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Bakker, A. B., Demerouti, E., & Burke, R. (2009). Workaholism and relationship quality: A spillover–crossover perspective. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 14, 23–33. doi:10.1037/a0013290.

  • *Barling, J. (1986). Interrole conflict and marital functioning amongst employed fathers. Journal of Occupational Behaviour, 7, 1–8. doi:10.1002/job.4030070103.

  • *Barnett, R. C., Gareis, K. C., & Brennan, R. T. (2008). Wives’ shift work schedules and husbands’ and wives’ well-being in dual-earner couples with children: A within-couple analysis. Journal of Family Issues, 29, 396–422. doi:10.1177/0192513X07305346.

  • *Beatty, C. A. (1996). The stress of managerial and professional women: Is the price too high? Journal of Organizational Behavior, 17, 233–251. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1379(199605)17:3<233::AID-JOB746>3.0.CO;2-V.

  • *Bedeian, A. G., Burke, B. G., & Moffett, R. G. (1988). Outcomes of work-family conflict among married male and female professionals. Journal of Management, 14, 475–491. doi:10.1177/014920638801400310.

  • Bianchi, S. M., & Milkie, M. A. (2010). Work and family research in the first decade of the 21st century. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72, 705–725. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00726.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruck, C. S., Allen, T. D., & Spector, P. E. (2002). The relation between work-family conflict and job satisfaction: A finer-grained analysis. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 60, 336–353. doi:10.1006/jvbe.2001.1836.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Byron, K. (2005). A meta-analytic review of work-family conflict and its antecedents. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 67, 169–198. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2004.08.009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Carroll, S. J., Hill, E. J., Yorgason, J. B., Larson, J. H., & Sandberg, J. G. (2013). Couple communication as a mediator between work–family conflict and marital satisfaction. Contemporary Family Therapy, 35, 530-545. doi:10.1007/s10591-013-9237-7.

  • *Chiu, R. K. (1998). Relationships among role conflicts, role satisfactions and life satisfaction: Evidence form Hong Kong. Social Behavior and Personality, 26, 409–414. doi:10.2224/sbp.1998.26.4.409.

  • Cooke, R. A., & Rousseau, D. M. (1984). Stress and strain from family roles and work-role expectations. Journal of Applied Psychology, 69, 252–260. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.69.2.252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Demo, D. H. (2010). The decade in review. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72, 403–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Demo, D. H., Aquilino, W. S., & Fine, M. A. (2005). Family composition and family transitions. In V. L. Bengtson, A. C. Acock, K. R. Allen, P. Dilworth-Anderson, & D. M. Klein (Eds.), Sourcebook of family theory & research (pp. 119–142). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eby, L. T., Casper, W. J., Lockwood, A., Bordeaux, C., & Brinley, A. (2005). Work and family research in OI/OB: Content analysis and review of the literature (1980–2002). Journal of Vocational Behavior, 66, 124–197. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2003.11.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Erickson, J. J., Martinengo, G., & Hill, E. J. (2010). Putting work and family experiences in context: Differences by family life stage. Human Relations, 63, 955–979. doi:10.1177/0018726709353138.

  • Fackrell, T., Galovan, A. M., Hill, E. J., & Holmes, E. K. (2013). Work-family interface for married women: A Singapore and United States cross-cultural comparison. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 51, 347–363. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7941.2013.00065.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ford, M. T., Heinen, B. A., & Langkamer, K. L. (2007). Work and family satisfaction and conflict: A meta-analysis of cross-domain relations. Journal of Applied Psychology, 92, 57–80. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.92.1.57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Galovan, A. M., Fackrell, T., Buswell, L., Jones, B. L., Hill, E. J., & Carroll, S. J. (2010). The work-family interface in the U.S. and Singapore: Conflict across cultures. Journal of Family Psychology, 24, 646–656. doi:10.1037/a0020832.

  • *Gareis, K. C., Chait Barnett, R., Ertel, K. A., & Berkman, L. F. (2009). Work-family enrichment and conflict: Additive effects, buffering, or balance? Journal of Marriage and Family, 71, 696–707. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2009.00627.x.

  • *Greenglass, E. R., & Burke, R. J. (1988). Work and family precursors of burnout in teachers: Sex differences. Sex Roles, 18, 215–229. doi:10.1007/BF00287791.

  • Greenhaus, J. H., & Beutell, N. J. (1985). Sources of conflict between work and family roles. Academy of Management Review, 10, 76–88. doi:10.5465/AMR.1985.4277352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenhaus, J. H., Parasuraman, S., & Collins, K. M. (2001). Career involvement and family involvement as moderators of relationships between work–family conflict and withdrawal from a profession. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 6, 91–100. doi:10.1037/1076-8998.6.2.91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haddock, S. A., Zimmerman, T. S., Ziemba, S. J., & Curent, L. R. (2001). Ten adaptive strategies for family and work balance: Advice from successful families. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 27, 445–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hair, E., Moore, K. A., Hadley, A. M., Kaye, K., Day, R. D., & Orthner, D. K. (2009). Parent marital quality and the parent-adolescent relationship: Effects on adolescent and young adult health outcomes. Marriage and Family Review, 45(2–3), 218–248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins, A. J., Blanchard, V. L., Baldwin, S. A., & Fawcett, E. B. (2008). Does marriage and relationship education work? A meta-analytic study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76, 723–734. doi:10.1037/a0012584.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Hill, E. J. (2005). Work-family facilitation and conflict, working fathers and mothers, work-family stressors and support. Journal of Family Issues, 26, 793–819. doi:10.1177/0192513X05277542.

  • Hill, E. J. (2007). Singapore national study of work-life harmony. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, E. J., Mead, N. T., Dean, L. R., Hafen, D. M., Gadd, R., Palmer, A. A., & Ferris, M. S. (2006). Researching the 60-hour dual-earner workweek: An alternative to the “opt-out revolution”. The American Behavioral Scientist, 49, 1184–1203. doi:10.1177/0002764206286385.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill, E. J., Yang, C., Hawkins, A. J., & Ferris, M. (2004). A cross-cultural test of the work-family interface in one corporation in 48 countries. Journal of Marriage and Family, 66, 1300–1316. doi:10.1111/j.0022-2445.2004.00094.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holt-Lunstad, J., Birmingham, W., & Jones, B. Q. (2008). Is there something unique about marriage? The relative impact of marital status, relationship quality, and network social support on ambulatory blood pressure and mental health. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 35, 239–244. doi:10.1007/s12160-008-9018-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hook, J. L. (2006). Care in context: Men’s unpaid work in 20 countries, 1965-2003. American Sociological Review, 71, 639–660. doi:10.1177/000312240607100406.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Hostetler, A. J., Desrochers, S., Kopko, K., & Moen, P. (2012). Marital and family satisfaction as a function of work–family demands and community resources: Individual- and couple-level analyses. Journal of Family Issues, 33, 316–340. doi:10.1177/0192513X11413877.

  • *Hughes, D., Galinsky, E., & Morris, A. (1992). The effects of job characteristics on marital quality: Specifying linking mechanisms. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 54, 31–42.

  • *Jacob, J. I., Allen, S. Hill, E. J., Mead, N. L., & Ferris, M. (2008). Work interference with dinnertime as a mediator and moderator between work hours and work and family outcomes. Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 36, 310–327. doi:10.1177/1077727X08316025.

  • Jacobs, J. A., & Gerson, K. (1998). Who are the overworked Americans? Review of Social Economy, 56, 442–459. doi:10.1080/00346769800000044.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Judge, T. A., Ilies, R. & Scott, B. A. (2006). Work–family conflict and emotions: Effects at work and at home. Personnel Psychology, 59, 779–814. doi:10.1111/j.1744-6570.2006.00054.x.

  • Kalil, A., Ziol-Guest, K. M., & Epstein, J. L. (2010). Nonstandard work and marital instability: Evidence from the national longitudinal survey of youth. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72, 1289–1300. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00765.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Karatepe, O. M., & Uludag, O. (2008). Affectivity, conflicts in the work-family interface, and hotel employee outcomes. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 27, 30–41. doi:10.1016/j.ijhm.2007.07.001.

  • Kinnunen, U., & Mauno, S. (1998). Antecedents and outcomes of work-family conflict among employed women and men in Finland. Human Relations, 51, 157–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinnunen, U., Geurts, S., & Mauno, S. (2004). Work-to-family conflict and its relationships with satisfaction and well-being: a one-year longitudinal study on gender differences. Work & Stress, 18, 1–18. doi:10.1080/02678370410001682005.

  • *Kinnunen, U., Vermulst, A., Gerris, J., & Mäkikangas, A. (2003). Work–family conflict and its relations to well-being: the role of personality as a moderating factor. Personality and Individual Differences, 35, 1669–1683. doi:10.1016/S0191-8869(02)00389-6.

  • Lipsey, M. W., & Wilson, D. B. (2001). Practical meta-analysis. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • *Macewen, K. E. & Barling, J. (1988). Interrole conflict, family support and marital adjustment of employed mothers: A short term, longitudinal study. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 9, 241–250. doi:10.1002/job.4030090304.

  • *Matthews, L. S., Conger, R. D., & Wickrama, K. A. S. (1996). Work-family conflict and marital quality: Mediating processes. Social Psychology Quarterly, 59, 62–79.

  • *Matthews, R. A., Del Priore, R. E., Acitelli, L. K., & Barnes-Farrell, J. L. (2006). Work-to-relationship conflict: Crossover effects in dual-earner couples. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 11, 228–240. doi:10.1037/1076-8998.11.3.228.

  • Maume, D. J., & Sebastian, R. A. (2012). Gender, nonstandard work schedules, and marital quality. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 33(4), 477–490. doi:10.1007/s10834-012-9308-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Mauno, S. & Kinnunen, U. (1999). The effects of job stressors on marital satisfaction in Finnish dual-earner couples. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 20, 879–895. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1379(199911)20:6<879::AID-JOB982>3.0.CO;2-2.

  • McNall, L. A., Nicklin, J. M., & Masuda, A. D. (2010). A meta-analytic review of the consequences associated with work-family enrichment. Journal of Business Psychology, 25, 381–396. doi:10.1007/s10869-009-9141-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Minnotte, K. L. (2012). Family structure, gender, and the work-family interface: Work-to-family conflict among single and partnered parents. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 33(1), 95–107. doi:10.1007/s10834-011-9261-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Minnotte, K. L., Minnotte, M. C., & Bonstrom, J. (2014). Work-family conflicts and marital satisfaction among US workers: Does stress amplification matter? Journal of Family and Economic Issues,. doi:10.1007/s10834-014-9420-5.

    Google Scholar 

  • *Minnotte, K. L., Minnotte, M. C., Pedersen, D. E., Mannon, S. E., & Kiger, G. (2010). His and her perspectives: Gender ideology, work-to-family conflict, and marital satisfaction. Sex Roles, 63, 425–438. doi:10.1007/s11199-010-9818-y.

  • *Netemeyer, R. G., Boles, J. S., & McMurrian, R. (1996). Development and validation of of work-family conflict and family-work conflict scales. Journal of Applied Psychology, 81, 400–410. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.81.4.400.

  • *Nomaguchi, K. M. & Milkie, M.A. (2015). Gender, beliefs about spouse’s work-family conflict, and relationship quality. In M. J. Mills (Ed.), Gender and the work-family experience: An intersection of two domains (pp. 159–176). New York: Springer.

  • *Perrone, K. M. & Worthington, E. L. (2001). Factoring influencing ratings of marital quality by individuals within dual-career marriages: A conceptual model. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 48(1), 3–9. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.48.1.3.

  • Peterson, R. A., & Brown, S. P. (2005). On the use of beta coefficient in meta-analyses. Journal of Applied Psychology, 90, 175–181. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.90.1.175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Rantanen, J., Kinnunen, U., Feldt, T., & Pulkkinen, L. (2008). Work–family conflict and psychological well-being: Stability and cross-lagged relations within one- and six-year follow-ups. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 73, 37–51. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2008.01.001.

  • Rogers, S. J., & Day, D. C. (2003). Spillover between marital quality and job satisfaction: Long-term patterns and gender differences. Journal of Marriage and Family, 65, 482–495.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Srivastava, U. R., & Srivastava, S. (2012). Outcomes of work-family conflict among Indian information technology (IT) professionals. Social Science International, 28, 137–158.

  • South, S. C., & Krueger, R. F. (2013). Marital satisfaction and physical health: Evidence for an orchid effect. Psychological Science, 24, 373–378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Suchet, M., & Barling, J. (1986). Employed mothers: Interrole conflict, spouse support and marital functioning. Journal of Occupational Behavior, 7, 167–178. doi:10.1002/job.4030070302.

  • *Voydanoff, P. (2005). Social integration, work-family conflict and facilitation, and job and marital quality. Journal of Marriage and Family, 67, 666–679. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2005.00161.x.

  • Wharton, A. S., & Blair-Loy, M. (2006). Long work hours ad family life: A cross-national study of employees’ concerns. Journal of Family Issues, 27, 415–437. doi:10.1177/0192513X05282985.

  • Wittmer, J. L. S., & Martin, J. E. (2010). Emotional exhaustion among employees without social or client contact: The key role of nonstandard work schedules. Journal of Business Psychology, 25, 607–623. doi:10.1007/s10869-009-9153-x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Wu, M., Chang, C.-C., & Zhuang, W.-L. (2010). Relationships of work-family conflict with business and marriage outcomes in Taiwanese copreneurial women. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 21, 742–753. doi:10.1080/09585191003658797.

  • Yang, N., Chen, C. C., Choi, J., & Zou, Y. (2000). Sources of work-family conflict: A Sino-U.S. comparison of the effects of work and family demands. The Academy of Management Journal, 43, 113–123. doi:10.2307/1556390.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yogev, S., & Brett, J. (1985). Perceptions of the division of housework and child care and marital satisfaction. Journal of Marriage and Family, 47, 609–618. doi:10.2307/352262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA

    Kaylene J. Fellows

  2. School of Family Life, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA

    Hsin-Yao Chiu, E. Jeffrey Hill & Alan J. Hawkins

Authors
  1. Kaylene J. Fellows
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hsin-Yao Chiu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. Jeffrey Hill
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alan J. Hawkins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kaylene J. Fellows.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fellows, K.J., Chiu, HY., Hill, E.J. et al. Work–Family Conflict and Couple Relationship Quality: A Meta-analytic Study. J Fam Econ Iss 37, 509–518 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-015-9450-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-015-9450-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation