Work-family enrichment of dual-earner couples: a longitudinal study on the effects of personal resources

Abstract

The current study investigated the dyadic longitudinal interaction between psychological capital as a personal resource and work-family enrichment. Work-family enrichment is a positive transfer by both men and women from the home domain's job experience. The study involved 129 couples with a broad age range measured at two measurement occasions spaced three months apart. The design was built on the Work-Home Resources and Spillover-Crossover models. The analyses applied in this study were based on Actor–Partner Interdependence Models and extended Common Fate Models. Psychological capital is a predictor of the interpersonal (between partners) and intrapersonal (within the self) level for WFE in the models conducted on dyadic data. Furthermore, shared work-family enrichment predicted shared psychological capital from both partners. Thus, personal resources predicted work-family enrichment three months later. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.