The moderating effect of spouse support on the relationship between work variables and women's work-family conflict

Abstract

The present study examines certain work variables (long work hours, autonomy, tedium and overload) in relation to women's work-family conflict, and the extent to which spouse support acts as a moderating variable in this relationship. In a sample of 310 Malaysian women combining work and family, results of the regression analyses showed that long working hours and overload were positively related to work-family conflict after taking into account of race and occupational group. In addition, there was some support for the moderating effect of spouse support on the relationship between work variables and conflict. Significant interactions were observed between work hours and spouse support, and between autonomy and spouse support. Implications of these findings to married employed women are discussed.