Work‐life conflict and employee health: A review

Abstract

The challenge of managing work and nonwork domains is an omnipresent experience for the employed workforce that has meaningful links to psychological, physical, and behavioral health. Work‐life conflict can create tension‐based strain and deplete resources, in turn interfering directly or indirectly with health. In this review, we summarize the empirical literature on work‐life conflict, and the more frequently studied and specific construct of work‐family conflict, as it pertains to employee health. Over three decades of literature inform this review, with more attention devoted to publications from the last 5 years. Trends and gaps in the current literature are identified.

The Effect of the Work-Life Interface on Insomnia: A Longitudinal Analysis of Male and Female Employees in Switzerland

“…Hence, in an attempt to promote well-being and productivity at work and reduce associated health care costs, treating insomnia is a major concern, for both employers and national governments. There have been several calls for further research in the field of social sciences to shed more light on the determinants of insomnia and other sleep problems or disorders, while properly assessing the magnitude of the effect of the work-life interface (e. g., Gisler et al 2018;Grzywacz 2016). To respond to such calls, we used data from the Swiss Household Panel and investigated whether and to what extent work-life conflict -decomposed into time-and strain-based conflicts (Greenhaus and Beutell, 1985) -and the ability to disconnect mentally from work (i. e. psychological detachment from work) (Etzion et al 1998;Fritz and Sonnentag 2006) affect sleep initiation and maintenance problems.…”

“…Increasing attention has been paid to the potential effects of the work-life interface on health and well-being (for a review see, e. g., Allen et al 2000;Frone 2003;Gisler et al 2018;Greenhaus et al 2006;Grzywacz 2016). In particular, a mounting body of evidence has linked difficulties in combining paid work, family, and other significant domains of life to sleep problems (Buxton et al 2016;Crain et al 2014;Lallukka et al 2010;Sekine et al 2006;Sonnentag et al 2010).…”

“…Therefore, domains other than work and family are generally overlooked and so is the explanatory power of different items. Besides, most available studies in the work-family literature have drawn on cross-sectional data (for a review see, e. g., Gisler et al 2018). Hence, as Grzywacz (2016) underlined, these studies have failed to consider the time course of a specific health outcome as well as the progression of the condition.…”

“…Building on Crain, Brossoit and Fisher (2018), conflict between multiple life domains (Greenhaus and Beutell 1985) and failure to detach from work during off-job hours could deplete time and human energy and have harmful effect on sleep and contribute to cause insomnia (see, e. g., Gisler et al 2018). Accordingly, we may anticipate that:…”

Headache in Medical Residents: A Cross‐Sectional Web‐Based Survey

“…Although duty hours were not the only factor related to work-life conflicts, they occupy a central role in the process. 32,34 Individuals who have heavier workloads seem to have burnout and work-life conflicts more frequently. As mentioned above, both conditions are related to headaches.…”