Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Psychosocial Factors at Work in the Asia Pacific pp 309–321Cite as

Work-Family Conflict and Worker Wellbeing in China

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

As the largest country in the Asia Pacific with rapid industrialization, China is undergoing dramatic economic and social transformation which has a huge impact on work and employment, and workers’ experiences of wellbeing. The key psychosocial factors at work, such as time pressure, workload, and job insecurity have been increasingly recognized for their adverse impact on levels of employee wellbeing. However, work-family conflict is a phenomenon which has received less attention in Chinese research on psychosocial factors at work. This chapter provides a historical overview of work-family conflict within the Chinese context, which has been cultured by collectivism for thousands of years. The divergence and concordance between individualistic and collectivist cultures on work-family conflict are presented; and its antecedents, consequences, and gender differences are also explored, followed by two case studies from China. It is concluded that, in contemporary China, work-family conflict is an important psychosocial factor at work. Contradicting findings from Western societies, obvious gender-based work-family conflict in China is observed, whereby the breadwinner role is central for men, and extra work which interferes with family life temporarily is accepted commonly by family members for the sake of future benefits from men’s career success. Thus, although Chinese men’s work-to-family conflict is high, their wellbeing is majorly determined by family-to-work conflict. For Chinese women with more than 90 % participation rate in employment, they are still expected to take primary responsibilities for housework and child-rearing. As a result, Chinese women are exposed to a double burden from work and family, and their wellbeing is affected by both work-to-family conflict and family-to-work conflict. In future, extended evidence by prospective investigations and intervention studies are needed to strengthen health-promoting work environments in China.

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

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adams, G. A., King, L. A., & King, D. W. (1996). Relationship of job and family involvement, family social support, and work-family conflict with job and life satisfaction. Journal of Applied Psychology, 81, 411–420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, T. D., Herst, D. E., Bruck, C. S., & Sutton, M. (2000). Consequences associated with work-to-family conflict: A review and agenda for future research. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 5, 278–308.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Amstad, F. T., Meier, L. L., Fasel, U., Elfering, A., & Semmer, N. K. (2011). A meta-analysis of work-family conflict and various outcomes with a special emphasis on cross-domain versus matching-domain relations. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 16, 151–169.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Aryee, S., Fields, D., & Luk, V. (1999). A cross-cultural test of a model of the work-family interface. Journal of Management, 25, 491–511.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bielby, D. D. (1992). Commitment to work and family. Annual Review of Sociology, 18, 281–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Byron, K. (2005). A meta-analytic review of work-family conflict and its antecedents. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 67, 169–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Canivet, C., Ostergren, P. O., Lindeberg, S. I., Choi, B., Karasek, R., Moghaddassi, M., et al. (2010). Conflict between the work and family domains and exhaustion among vocationally active men and women. Social Science & Medicine, 70, 1237–1245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, D. S., Grzywacz, J. G., & Zivnuska, S. (2009). Is work-family balance more than conflict and enrichment? Human Relations, 62, 1459.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Casini, A., Clays, E., Godin, I., De Backer, G., Kornitzer, M., & Kittel, F. (2010). The differential impact of job isostrain and home-work interference on indicators of physical and mental health in women and men. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 52, 1236–1244.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chandola, T., Martikainen, P., Bartley, M., Lahelma, E., Marmot, M., Michikazu, S., et al. (2004). Does conflict between home and work explain the effect of multiple roles on mental health? A comparative study of Finland, Japan, and the UK. International Journal of Epidemiology, 33, 884–893.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Choi, J., & Chen, C. C. (2006). Gender differences in perceived work demands, family demands, and life stress among married Chinese employees. Management and Organization Review, 2, 209–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chun, C. A., Moos, R., & Cronkite, R. (2006). Culture: A fundamental context for the stress and coping paradigm. In P. Wong & L. Wong (Eds.), Handbook of multicultural perspectives on stress and coping (pp. 29–53). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Emslie, C., Hunt, K., & Macintyre, S. (2004). Gender, work-home conflict, and morbidity amongst white-collar bank employees in the United Kingdom. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 11, 127–134.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frone, M. R. (2000). Work-family conflict and employee psychiatric disorders: The National Comorbidity Survey. Journal of Applied Psychology, 85, 888–895.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frone, M. R., Russell, M., & Cooper, M. L. (1992a). Antecedents and outcomes of work-family conflict: Testing a model of the work-family interface. Journal of Applied Psychology, 77, 65–78.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frone, M. R., Russell, M., & Cooper, M. L. (1992b). Prevalence of work-family conflict: Are work and family boundaries asymmetrically permeable? Journal of Organizational Behavior, 13, 723–729.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graham, A. C. (1990). Studies in Chinese philosophy and philosophical literature (1st ed.). Albany: State University of New York Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grandey, A. A., Cordeiro, B. L., & Crouter, A. C. (2005). A longitudinal and multi-source test of the work-family conflict and job satisfaction relationship. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 78, 305–323.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grant-Vallone, E. J., & Donaldson, S. I. (2001). Consequences of work-family conflict on employee well-being over time. Work & Stress, 15, 214–226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenhaus, J. H., & Beutell, N. J. (1985). Sources of conflict between work and family roles. Academy of Management Review, 10, 76–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grzywacz, J. G., Frone, M. R., Brewer, C. S., & Kovner, C. T. (2006). Quantifying work-family conflict among registered nurses. Research in Nursing & Health, 29, 414–426.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammer, T. H., Saksvik, P. Ø., Nytrø, K., Torvatn, H., & Bayazit, M. (2004). Expanding the psychosocial work environment: Workplace norms and work-family conflict as correlates of stress and health. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 9, 83–97.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hammer, L. B., Cullen, J. C., Neal, M. B., Sinclair, R. R., & Shafiro, M. V. (2005). The longitudinal effects of work-family conflict and positive spillover on depressive symptoms among dual-earner couples. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 10, 138–154.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hammer, L. B., Kossek, E. E., Anger, W. K., Bodner, T., & Zimmerman, K. L. (2011). Clarifying work-family intervention processes: The roles of work-family conflict and family-supportive supervisor behaviors. Journal of Applied Psychology, 96, 134–150.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hassan, Z., Dollard, M. F., & Winefield, A. H. (2010). Work-family conflict in East vs Western countries. Cross Cultural Management, 17, 30–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill, E. J., Yang, C., Hawkins, A. J., & Ferris, M. (2004). A cross-cultural test of the work-family interface in 48 countries. Journal of Marriage and Family, 66, 1300–1316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • International Labour Office. (2011, October). Economically active population, estimates and projections (6th ed.). http://laborsta.ilo.org/applv8/data/EAPEP/eapep_E.html. Accessed 30 June 2013.

  • Jenkins, C. D., Stanton, B. A., Niemcryk, S. J., & Rose, R. M. (1988). A scale for the estimation of sleep problems in clinical research. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 41, 313–321.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kelloway, E. K., Gottlieb, B. H., & Barham, L. (1999). The source, nature, and direction of work and family conflict: A longitudinal investigation. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 4, 337–346.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kossek, E. E., Pichler, S., Bodner, T., & Hammer, L. B. (2011). Workplace social support and work-family conflict: A meta-analysis clarifying the influence of general and work-family-specific supervisor and organizational support. Personnel Psychology, 64, 289–313.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kristensen, T. S., Borritz, M., Villadsen, E., & Christensen, K. B. (2005). The Copenhagen Burnout inventory: A new tool for the assessment of burnout. Work & Stress, 19, 192–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lai, G. (1995). Work and family roles and psychological well-being in urban China. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 36, 11–37.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leung, A. S. M. (2003). Feminism in transition: Chinese culture, ideology and the development of the women’s movement in China. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 20, 359–374.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, J., & Chen, W. Q. (2011). Workplace health promotion in China. In W. Kirsten & R. C. Karch (Eds.), Global perspectives of workplace health promotion (pp. 89–117). Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, J., & Jin, T. Y. (2007). Work stress and health – Current research activities and implications in China. WHO Global Occupational Health Network (GOHNET) Newsletter Special, 25–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, L., Wang, H. M., & Shen, Y. (2003). Chinese SF-36 health survey: Translation, cultural adaptation, validation, and normalisation. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 57, 259–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, J., Yang, W., & Cho, S. I. (2006). Gender differences in job strain, effort-reward imbalance, and health functioning among Chinese physicians. Social Science & Medicine, 62, 1066–1077.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, J., Fu, H., Hu, Y., Shang, L., Wu, Y., Kristensen, T. S., et al. (2010). Psychosocial work environment and intention to leave the nursing profession: Results from the longitudinal Chinese NEXT study. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 38(3 Suppl), 69–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li, J., Loerbroks, A., Shang, L., Wege, N., Wahrendorf, M., & Siegrist, J. (2012). Validation of a short measure of effort-reward imbalance in the workplace: Evidence from China. Journal of Occupational Health, 54, 427–433.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, N., & Lai, G. (1995). Urban stress in China. Social Science & Medicine, 41, 1131–1145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ling, Y., & Powell, G. N. (2001). Work-family conflict in contemporary China: Beyond an American-based model. International Journal of Cross Cultural Management, 1, 357–373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Littman, A. J., White, E., Satia, J. A., Bowen, D. J., & Kristal, A. R. (2006). Reliability and validity of 2 single-item measures of psychosocial stress. Epidemiology, 17, 398–403.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, J. F., Shi, K., & Lawler, J. J. (2002). A study on work-family conflict (in Chinese). Chinese Journal of Applied Psychology, 8, 45–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu, L., Kao, S. F., Chang, T. T., Wu, H. P., & Cooper, C. L. (2008). Work/family demands, work flexibility, work/family conflict, and their consequences at work: A national probability sample in Taiwan. International Journal of Stress Management, 15, 1–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazzola, J. J., Schonfeld, I. S., & Spector, P. E. (2011). What qualitative research has taught us about occupational stress? Stress and Health, 27, 93–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mesmer-Magnus, J. R., & Viswesvaran, C. (2005). Convergence between measures of work-to-family and family-to-work conflict: A meta-analytic examination. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 67, 215–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Metzenthin, P., Helfricht, S., Loerbroks, A., Terris, D. D., Haug, H. J., Subramanian, S. V., et al. (2009). A one-item subjective work stress assessment tool is associated with cortisol secretion levels in critical care nurses. Preventive Medicine, 48, 462–466.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moen, P., Kelly, E. L., Tranby, E., & Huang, Q. (2011). Changing work, changing health: Can real work-time flexibility promote health behaviors and well-being? Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 52, 404–429.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ngo, H., & Lau, C. (1998). Interferences between work and family among male and female executives in Hong Kong. Research and Practice in Human Resource Management, 6, 17–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pleck, J. H. (1977). The work-family role system. Social Problems, 24, 417–427.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Powell, G. N., Francesco, A. M., & Ling, Y. (2009). Toward culture-sensitive theories of the work-family interface. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 30, 597–616.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schein, E. H. (1984). Culture as an environmental context for careers. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 5, 71–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shang, L., Li, J., Zhou, M., Fan, L. B., & Gu, H. K. (2009). Impact of social, behavioral and psychological factors on sleep disorder in working population (in Chinese). Chinese General Practice, 12, 952–955.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shimazu, A., Kubota, K., Bakker, A., Demerouti, E., Shimada, K., & Kawakami, N. (2013). Work-to-family conflict and family-to-work conflict among Japanese dual-earner couples with preschool children: A spillover-crossover perspective. Journal of Occupational Health, 55, 234–243.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simon, M., Kümmerling, A., Hasselhorn, H. M., & Next-Study Group. (2004). Work-home conflict in the European nursing profession. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 10, 384–391.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spector, P. E., Cooper, C. L., Poelmans, S., Allen, T. D., O’driscoll, M., Sanchez, J. I., et al. (2004). A cross-national comparative study of work-family stressors, working hours, and well-being: China and Latin America versus the Anglo world. Personnel Psychology, 57, 119–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spector, P. E., Allen, T. D., Poelmans, S. A. Y., Lapierre, L. M., Cooper, C. L., O’driscoll, M., et al. (2007). Cross-national differences in relationships of work demands, job satisfaction, and turnover intentions with work-family conflict. Personnel Psychology, 60, 805–835.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • von dem Knesebeck, O., Joksimovic, L., Dragano, N., & Siegrist, J. (2004). Psychosocial risks at work and family: The consequences of spillover on depressive symptom (in German). In M. Kastner (Ed.), The future of work life balance (pp. 261–281). Kroening: Asanger Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, J., Afifi, T. O., Cox, B., & Sareen, J. (2007). Work-family conflict and mental disorders in the United States: Cross-sectional findings from The National Comorbidity Survey. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 50, 143–149.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Z., Schoebi, D., & Perrez, M. (2010). The division of family work in China and Europe: on the role of culture. Advances in Psychological Science, 18, 1668–1678.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watai, I., Nishikido, N., & Murashima, S. (2008). Gender difference in work-family conflict among Japanese information technology engineers with preschool children. Journal of Occupational Health, 50, 317–327.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Westman, M., & Piotrkowski, C. S. (1999). Introduction to the special issue: Work-family research in occupational health psychology. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 4, 301–306.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. (2010). Healthy workplaces: A model for action. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2010/9789241599313_eng.pdf. Accessed 30 June 2013.

  • Xu, L., Siegrist, J., Cao, W., Li, L., Tomlinson, B., & Chan, J. (2004). Measuring job stress and family stress in Chinese working women: A validation study focusing on blood pressure and psychosomatic symptoms. Women & Health, 39, 31–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, N., Chen, C. C., Choi, J., & Zou, Y. (2000). Sources of work-family conflict: A Sino-U.S. comparison of the effects of work and family demands. Academy of Management Journal, 43, 113–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeh, W. Y., Cheng, Y., Chen, C. J., Hu, P. Y., & Kristensen, T. S. (2007). Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of Copenhagen burnout inventory among employees in two companies in Taiwan. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 14, 126–133.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yi, C., & Chien, W. (2002). The linkage between work and family: Female’s employment patterns in three Chinese societies. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 33, 451–474.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, W., Duxbury, L., & Li, L. (2006). Theoretical framework of work-family balance in Chinese employees (in Chinese). Modern Management Science, 25, 12–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, X., Wang, Z., & Li, T. (2010). The current status of occupational health in China. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 15, 263–270.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, M., Wege, N., Gu, H., Shang, L., Li, J., & Siegrist, J. (2010). Work and family stress is associated with menstrual disorders but not with fibrocystic changes: Cross-sectional findings in Chinese working women. Journal of Occupational Health, 52, 361–366.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuo, J., & Bian, Y. (2001). Gendered resources, division of housework, and perceived fairness – A case in urban China. Journal of Marriage and Family, 63, 1122–1133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank Dr. Li Shang, from Kunming Medical University (China), Dr. Hua Fu and Dr. Yan Hu from Fudan University (China), for their excellent scientific collaboration on field work and data collection. Dr. Jian Li’s research work was partly supported by a Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowship within the 7th European Community Framework Programme (PIIF-GA-2008-220641).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine, Center for Health and Society, University of Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, NRW, Germany

    Jian Li & Peter Angerer

Authors
  1. Jian Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Peter Angerer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jian Li .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Applied Psychological Research, School of Psychology, Social Work & Social Policy, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

    Maureen F. Dollard

  2. Department of Mental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Akihito Shimazu

  3. Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

    Rusli Bin Nordin

  4. School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Paula Brough

  5. Centre for Applied Psychological Research, School of Psychology, Social Work & Social Policy, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

    Michelle R. Tuckey

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Li, J., Angerer, P. (2014). Work-Family Conflict and Worker Wellbeing in China. In: Dollard, M., Shimazu, A., Bin Nordin, R., Brough, P., Tuckey, M. (eds) Psychosocial Factors at Work in the Asia Pacific. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8975-2_16

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation