Challenge job demands, time-based work–family conflict, and family well-being outcomes: The moderating effect of conscientiousness.

Abstract

Although much research has accumulated substantial findings on the impacts of challenge job demands on employees’ work and well-being outcomes, less is known about the effects on employees’ family well-being. Based on the work–home resource (W–HR) model, we propose that challenge job demands are negatively related with employees’ family well-being (i.e., marital satisfaction and parent–child relationship) via time-based work–family conflict (WFC). We further propose that conscientiousness buffers this relationship. Data were collected from 217 employee–spouse/partner dyads. We found that challenge job demands had negative indirect effects on marital satisfaction and parent–child relationship via time-based WFC. We also found that conscientiousness buffered the positive effects of challenge job demands on employees’ time-based WFC and the indirect effects of challenge job demands on marital satisfaction and parent–child relationship via time-based WFC. Findings can help guide future theoretical development of challenge job demands, time-based WFC, and family well-being. Our study informs practitioners regarding the double-edged sword effects of challenge job demands and the importance of conscientiousness in reducing the negative effects of challenge job demands on employees’ family well-being. Our research reminds dual-career parents that challenge job demands could invade their family domain, affecting not only marital satisfaction but also parent–child relationship, which they may hold dear to their hearts.