Linking Work-Family Enrichment to Job Satisfaction through Job Well-Being and Family Support: A Moderated Mediation Analysis of Social Workers across India

Abstract

Social workers often experience stress from competing work and family demands, which negatively affects their job well-being and subsequently their job satisfaction. Yet, social workers can experience enrichment from participating in both work and family roles, which positively influences their job well-being and job satisfaction. The present study aimed to examine the mediating role of job well-being on the relationship between work-family enrichment and job satisfaction, and the moderating role of family support on the relationship between work-family enrichment and job well-being, and subsequently on job satisfaction for social workers. Data were collected from professional social workers employed in various governmental and non-governmental agencies across fifteen states and territories (n=428) in India using a paper-and-pencil questionnaire. We found that social workers who experienced work-family enrichment also experienced job well-being and subsequently job satisfaction, particularly at higher levels of family support. These findings highlight the importance of the synergistic combination of work and family resources such as family support, work-family enrichment and job well-being to enhance the job satisfaction of social workers. We discuss the implications of these findings for social service organisations and recommend ways in which work-family enrichment can be enhanced.