Work-family interface for married women: A Singapore and United States cross-cultural comparison

Abstract

This study is a cross-cultural comparison of the work-family interface for married women using two nationally representative samples from Singapore (n = 467) and the United States of America (n = 923). This study demonstrates how the direction and strength of paths in a model of the work-family interface differs between a collectivist nation (Singapore) and an individualistic nation (the USA). Results revealed that schedule flexibility decreased family-to-work conflict in the United States but increased family-to-work conflict and increased depression in Singapore. Clear differences in the direction of effects in schedule flexibility and family-to-work conflict in the United States and Singapore suggest that national culture (e.g. collectivist vs individualistic) is an important factor in theorizing about the work-family interface for married women. © 2012 Australian Human Resources Institute.