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Domain Satisfaction as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Work–Family Spillover and Subjective Well-Being: A Longitudinal Study

Journal of Business and Psychology volume 31, pages 445–457 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

Despite greater recognition that public and workplace policies are needed to facilitate work–family integration, scarce evidence exists on whether and how work–family spillover relates to future subjective well-being (SWB). Guided by conservation of resources theory and bottom-up theories of SWB (i.e., domain-specific satisfaction serves as a source of overall SWB), we investigated the relationship between work–family spillover and future life satisfaction and the potential mechanisms of the relationship (job and marital satisfaction). The relative contribution of positive and negative work–family spillover to SWB was also examined.

Design/Methodology/Approach

Lagged analyses were conducted on self-reported data from a representative U.S. sample over a 9-year interval (N = 2588).

Findings

Individuals who experienced negative work-to-family spillover were less satisfied with their life at a 9-year follow-up, whereas those who experienced positive family-to-work spillover reported higher life satisfaction at the follow-up. These prospective associations remained significant when considering other established predictors of life satisfaction (baseline life satisfaction, health, gender, income, and personality) and were mediated by job satisfaction and marital satisfaction.

Implications

This study provides empirical evidence for ongoing advocacy for working families, suggesting that policies that facilitate positive family-to-work spillover and minimize negative work-to-family spillover should be regarded as essential to enhance SWB of individuals in our society in the long run.

Originality/Value

This study expands our understanding of the causal relationship between work–family spillover and life satisfaction by considering both positive and negative spillover and demonstrating the mechanisms by which work–family spillover relates to future life satisfaction, even beyond personality, health, and income.

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Notes

  1. We thank an anonymous reviewer for this suggestion.

  2. We thank an anonymous reviewer for this suggestion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Psychology, Nanyang Technological University, 14 Nanyang Dr., Singapore, 637332, Singapore

    Eunae Cho

  2. Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, 703 Third St., West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA

    Louis Tay

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  1. Eunae Cho
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  2. Louis Tay
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Correspondence to Eunae Cho.

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Cho, E., Tay, L. Domain Satisfaction as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Work–Family Spillover and Subjective Well-Being: A Longitudinal Study. J Bus Psychol 31, 445–457 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-015-9423-8

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Keywords

  • Work–family spillover
  • Life satisfaction
  • Job satisfaction
  • Marital satisfaction
  • Longitudinal