Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A moderated multilevel study of work-to-family conflict, empowerment, and turnover intentions

  • Published:
Quality & Quantity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Although the concept of psychological empowerment has been applied at the team-level, the buffering role of other team members’ empowerment toward turnover has not been conceptualized and investigated. Extending research on the relationship between work‐to‐family conflict and turnover intentions in the team setting, this study investigates the cross-level interaction of other team members’ empowerment by adopting a multilevel approach. Using a sample of 730 teams and 4821 members from six Local Health Organizations, we investigate the influence of other team members’ empowerment on turnover intentions and its relationship with work‐to‐family conflict. Other team members’ empowerment negatively predicted turnover intentions. The positive relationship between work‐to‐family conflict and turnover intentions is stronger among employees working with other team members’ with a lower sense of empowerment than among those reporting a higher sense of empowerment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen, T.D., Herst, D.E., Bruck, C.S., Sutton, M.: Consequences associated with work-to-family conflict: a review and agenda for future research. J. Occup. Health Psychol. 5(2), 278–308 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amirkhan, J.H.: A factor analytically derived measure of coping: the coping strategy indicator. J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 59(5), 1066–1074 (1990). doi:10.1037/0022-3514.59.5.1066

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amstad, F.T., Meier, L.L., Fasel, U., Elfering, A., Semmer, N.K.: A meta-analysis of work-family conflict and various outcomes with a special emphasis on cross-domain versus matching-domain relations. J. Occup. Health Psychol. 16(2), 151–169 (2011). doi:10.1037/a0022170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bauer, D.J., Curran, P.J.: Probing interactions in fixed and multilevel regression: inferential and graphical techniques. Multivar. Behav. Res. 40(3), 373–400 (2005). doi:10.1207/s15327906mbr4003_5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyar, S.L., Maertz Jr, C.P., Pearson, A.W., Keough, S.: Work-family conflict: a model of linkages between work and family domain variables and turnover intentions. J. Manag Issues 15(2), 175–190 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, G., Kanfer, R.: Toward a systems theory of motivated behavior in work teams. Res Org Behav 27, 223–267 (2006). doi:10.1016/S0191-3085(06)27006-0

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, G., Kirkman, B.L., Kanfer, R., Allen, D., Rosen, B.: A multilevel study of leadership, empowerment, and performance in teams. J. Appl. Psychol. 92(2), 331–346 (2007). doi:10.1037/0021-9010.92.2.331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiaburu, D.S., Harrison, D.A.: Do peers make the place? Conceptual synthesis and meta-analysis of coworker effects on perceptions, attitudes, OCBs, and performance. J. Appl. Psychol. 93(5), 1082–1103 (2008). doi:10.1037/0021-9010.93.5.1082

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisinga, R., Grotenhuis, M., Pelzer, B.: The reliability of a two-item scale: pearson, Cronbach, or Spearman-Brown? Int. J. Public Health 58(4), 637–642 (2013). doi:10.1007/s00038-012-0416-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enders, C.K., Tofighi, D.: Centering predictor variables in cross-sectional multilevel models: a new look at an old issue. Psychol. Methods 12(2), 121–138 (2007). doi:10.1037/1082-989x.12.2.121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, S.D., Hanlin, C.E., Prilleltensky, I.: Blending ameliorative and transformative approaches in human service organizations: a case study. J. Community Psychol. 35(3), 329–346 (2007). doi:10.1002/jcop.20151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grandey, A.A., Cropanzano, R.: The conservation of resources model applied to work–family conflict and strain. J. Vocat. Behav. 54(2), 350–370 (1999). doi:10.1006/jvbe.1998.1666

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guglielmi, D., Paplomatas, A., Simbula, S., Depolo, M.: Prevenzione dello stress lavoro correlato: validazione di uno strumento per la valutazione dei rischi psicosociali nella scuola. Psicologia della Salute 3, 53–74 (2011). doi:10.3280/PDS2011-003003

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobfoll, S.E.: Conservation of resources: a new attempt at conceptualizing stress. Am. Psychol. 44(3), 513–524 (1989). doi:10.1037/0003-066X.44.3.513

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hox, J.J.: Multilevel Analysis: Techniques and Applications. Routledge, New York (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  • Istat: Struttura e attività degli istituti di cura, Rome (2011)

  • Kanter, R.M.: The Change Masters. Simon & Schuster, New York (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkman, B.L., Rosen, B.: A model of work team empowerment. In: Woodman, R.W., Pasmore, W.A. (eds.) Research in Organizational Change And Development. JAI Press, Greenwich (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkman, B.L., Rosen, B.: Beyond self-management: antecedents and consequences of team empowerment. Acad. Manag. J. 42(1), 58–74 (1999). doi:10.2307/256874

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koberg, C.S., Boss, R.W., Senjem, J.C., Goodman, E.A.: Antecedents and outcomes of empowerment: empirical evidence from the health care industry. Group Org. Manag. 24(1), 71–91 (1999). doi:10.1177/1059601199241005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Korabik, K., Warner, M.: The impact of co-workers on work-to-family enrichment and organizational outcomes. In: Poelmans, S., Greenhaus, J., Las Heras Maestro, M. (eds.) Expanding the boundaries Of Work-Family Research: A Vision for the Future, pp. 254–277. Palgrave Macmillan, Hampshire (2013)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • LeBreton, J.M., Senter, J.L.: Answers to 20 questions about interrater reliability and interrater agreement. Org. Res. Methods 11(4), 815–852 (2008). doi:10.1177/1094428106296642

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewin, K.: Group decision and social change. In: Newcomb, T.M., Hartley, E.L. (eds.) Readings in Social Psychology, pp. 330–344. Holt, New York (1947)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, D., Zhang, S., Wang, L., Lee, T.W.: The effects of autonomy and empowerment on employee turnover: test of a multilevel model in teams. J. Appl. Psychol. 96(6), 1305–1316 (2011). doi:10.1037/a0024518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malone, T.W.: Is ‘Empowerment’ just a fad? Control, decision-making, and information technology. BT Technol. J. 17(4), 141–144 (1999). doi:10.1023/A:1009663512936

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marks, M.A., Mathieu, J.E., Zaccaro, S.J.: A temporally based framework and taxonomy of team processes. Acad. Manag. Rev. 26(3), 356–376 (2001). doi:10.5465/amr.2001.4845785

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, T.N.: A contextual model of employee turnover intentions. Acad. Manag. J. 22(2), 313–324 (1979). doi:10.2307/255592

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mathieu, J.E., Gilson, L.L., Ruddy, T.M.: Empowerment and team effectiveness: an empirical test of an integrated model. J. Appl. Psychol. 91(1), 97–108 (2006). doi:10.1037/0021-9010.91.1.97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maynard, M.T., Gilson, L.L., Mathieu, J.E.: Empowerment—fad or fab? A multilevel review of the past two decades of research. J. Manag. 38(4), 1231–1281 (2012). doi:10.1177/0149206312438773

    Google Scholar 

  • Maynard, M.T., Mathieu, J.E., Gilson, L.L., O’Boyle, E.H., Cigularov, K.P.: Drivers and outcomes of team psychological empowerment: a meta-analytic review and model test. Org. Psychol. Rev. 3(2), 101–137 (2013). doi:10.1177/2041386612456868

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, J.P., Allen, N.J., Smith, C.A.: Commitment to organizations and occupations: extension and test of a three-component conceptualization. J. Appl. Psychol. 78(4), 538–551 (1993). doi:10.1037/0021-9010.78.4.538

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pfeffer, J.: Organizations and Organization Theory. Pitman, Marshfield (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pietrantoni, L., Prati, G.: Empowerment psicologico: contributo alla validazione italiana della scala di Spreitzer. Risorsa Uomo 14, 325–338 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  • Podsakoff, P.M., MacKenzie, S.B., Podsakoff, N.P.: Sources of method bias in social science research and recommendations on how to control it. Annu. Rev. Psychol. 63(1), 539–569 (2012). doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-120710-100452

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Preacher, K.J., Curran, P.J., Bauer, D.J.: Computational tools for probing interactions in multiple linear regression, multilevel modeling, and latent curve analysis. J. Educ. Behav. Stat. 31(4), 437–448 (2006). doi:10.3102/10769986031004437

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raykov, T.: Estimation of composite reliability for congeneric measures. Appl. Psychol. Meas. 21(2), 173–184 (1997). doi:10.1177/01466216970212006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seibert, S.E., Silver, S.R., Randolph, W.A.: Taking empowerment to the next level: a multiple-level model of empowerment, performance, and satisfaction. Acad. Manag. J. 47(3), 332–349 (2004). doi:10.2307/20159585

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seibert, S.E., Wang, G., Courtright, S.H.: Antecedents and consequences of psychological and team empowerment in organizations: a meta-analytic review. J. Appl. Psychol. 96(5), 981–1003 (2011). doi:10.1037/a0022676

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sparrowe, R.T.: Empowerment in the hospitality industry: an exploration of antecedents and outcomes. J. Hosp. Tour. Res. 17(3), 51–73 (1994). doi:10.1177/109634809401700306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spreitzer, G.M.: An empirical test of a comprehensive model of intrapersonal empowerment in the workplace. Am. J. Community Psychol. 23(5), 601–629 (1995a)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spreitzer, G.M.: Psychological empowerment in the workplace: dimensions, measurement, and validation. Acad. Manag. J. 38(5), 1442–1465 (1995b). doi:10.2307/256865

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spreitzer, G.M.: Taking stock: a review of more than twenty years of research on empowerment at work. In: Barling, J., Cooper, C.L. (eds.) Handbook of Organizational Behavior, pp. 54–72. Sage, Thousand Oaks (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  • Spreitzer, G.M., Mishra, A.K.: To stay or to go: voluntary survivor turnover following an organizational downsizing. J. Org. Behav. 23(6), 707–729 (2002). doi:10.1002/job.166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, K.W., Velthouse, B.A.: Cognitive elements of empowerment: an “interpretive” model of intrinsic task motivation. Acad. Manag. Rev. 15(4), 666–681 (1990). doi:10.2307/258687

    Google Scholar 

  • Toderi, S., Sarchielli, G.: Auto-efficacia e socializzazione organizzativa: il ruolo degli obiettivi personali. Giornale Italiano di Psicologia 2, 509–518 (2011). doi:10.1421/35175

    Google Scholar 

  • Voydanoff, P.: A conceptual model of the work-family interface. In: Korabik, K., Lero, D.S., Whitehead, D.L. (eds.) Handbook of Work-Family Integration, pp. 37–55. Academic Press, San Diego (2008)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, L.J., Hartman, N., Cavazotte, F.: Method variance and marker variables: a review and comprehensive CFA marker technique. Org. Res. Methods 13(3), 477–514 (2010). doi:10.1177/1094428110366036

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Italian Federation of Health Authorities and Hospitals (FIASO).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Bologna, Viale Europa 115, 47521, Cesena, FC, Italy

    Gabriele Prati

  2. Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat, 5, 40127, Bologna, BO, Italy

    Bruna Zani

Authors
  1. Gabriele Prati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bruna Zani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gabriele Prati.

Ethics declarations

Ethical statement

In conducting this study, accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Prati, G., Zani, B. A moderated multilevel study of work-to-family conflict, empowerment, and turnover intentions. Qual Quant 50, 2279–2292 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-015-0262-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-015-0262-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation