Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Employed Caregivers’ Response to Family-Role Overload: the Role of Control-at-Home and Caregiver Type

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Business and Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Drawing from role theory, stress and coping, and caregiving literatures, this paper develops a model of family-role overload involving two forms of caregiver burden (subjective, objective) and two types of maladaptive changes in employee behavior (at work, personal), and hypothesizes that caregiver type (eldercare-only vs. sandwich) moderates all paths in the model. Partial Least Squares structural equation modeling (SEM) supported all hypothesized direct paths. Contrary to our hypotheses, data analysis showed two positive relationships (i.e., objective caregiver burden to family-role overload, family-role overload to maladaptive changes in personal behavior) were stronger for those in the eldercare-only sample than for those in the sandwich sample. Post hoc analysis revealed five significant gender differences in the relationships included in our model. This study contributes to work–family theory by reinforcing the need to consider both caregiver type and gender when researching the challenges faced by employees trying to balance work and caregiving.

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
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. We note that the challenges faced by employed caregivers in Canada have seen little change since the data was collected in 2012. The number of employed caregivers in Canada has, however, increased.

  2. The procedure used in this manuscript was based on a recommendation from a reviewer.

References

  • Allen, T., Cho, E., & Meier, L. (2014). Work-family boundary dynamics. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 1, 99–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aassve, A., Goisis, A., & Sironi, M. (2012). Happiness and childbearing across Europe. Social Indicators Research, 108(1), 65–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adelman, R., Tmanova, L., Delgado, D., Dion, S., & Lachs, M. S. (2014). Caregiver burden: A clinical review. Jama, 311(10), 1052–1060.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, K., Robertson, N. (2008). Coping with caring for someone with dementia: Reviewing the literature about men, Aging and Mental Health, 12(4), 413–422.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bastawrous, M. (2013). Caregiver burden—A critical discussion. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 50(3), 431–441.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, P., Wright, J., Oyebode, J., Job, D., Crome, P., Bentham, P., Jones, L., & Lendon, C. (2008). Determinants of burden in those who care for someone with dementia. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 23(10), 1078–1085.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Calvano, L. (2013). Tug of war: Caring for our elders while remaining productive at work. The Academy of Management Perspectives, 27(3), 204–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Calvano, L. (2015). Balancing eldercare and work. In R. J. Burke & C. L. Coper (Eds.), The multi-generational and aging workforce: Challenges and opportunities (pp. 163–182). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caplan, R., Cobb, S., French, J., Harrison, R., Pinneau, S. (1980). Job demands and worker health: Main effects and occupational differences. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan, Institute for Social Research.

  • Carretero, S., Garcés, J., Ródenas, F., & Sanjosé, V. (2009). The informal caregiver's burden of dependent people: Theory and empirical review. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 49(1), 74–79.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chernick, M. (2011). The essentials of biostatistics for physicians, nurses, and clinicians. John Wiley & Sons.

  • Duner, A., & Nordström, M. (2005). Intentions and strategies among elderly people: Coping in everyday life. Journal of Aging Studies, 19(4), 437–451.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duxbury, L., & Higgins, C. (2017). Something’s got to give: Balancing work, childcare, and eldercare. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duxbury, L., Lyons, S., & Higgins, C. (2008). Too Much to do and Not Enough Time: An Examination of Role Overload. In D. Lero, K. Korabik, & D. Whitehead (Eds.), Handbook of Work-Family Integration: Research, Theory and Best Practice (pp. 125–140). Waltham: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duxbury, L., Higgins, C., & Smart, R. (2011). Elder care and the impact of caregiver strain on the health of employed caregivers. Work, 40(1), 29–40.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eagly, A. & Wood, W. (2016). Social Role Theory of Sex Differences. In N. Naples, R. C. Hoogland, M. Wickramasinghe, & W. C. A. Wong (Eds.), The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Gender and Sexuality Studies.

  • Eby, L., Casper, W. J., Lockwood, A., Bordeaux, C., & Brinley, A. (2005). Work and family research in IO/OB: Content analysis and review of the literature 1980–2002. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 66, 124–197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, A., Zarit, S., Stephens, M., & Townsend, A. (2002). Employed family caregivers of cognitively impaired elderly: An examination of role strain and depressive symptoms. Aging & Mental Health, 6(1), 55–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fast, J., Dosman, D., Lero, D., Lucas, S. (2013). The intersection of caregiving and employment across the life course. Research on aging, policies and practice, Department of Human Ecology, University of Alberta.

  • Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18, 39–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hair, J. F., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2011). PLS-SEM: Indeed a silver bullet. Journal of Marketing theory and Practice, 19(2), 139–152.

  • Hair, J., Sarstedt, M., Ringle, C., & Mena, J. (2012). An assessment of the use of partial least squares structural equation modeling in marketing research. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 40(3), 414–433.

    Google Scholar 

  • He, W., Goodkind, D., Kowal, P. (2016). An Aging World: 2015, United States Census Bureau, international population reports, P95/16-1, U.S. Government publishing office, Washington, DC.

  • Henseler, J., Ringle, C., Sinkovics, R. R. (2009). The use of partial least squares path modeling in international marketing. In R. R. Sinkovics, P. N. Ghauri (Eds.) New Challenges to International Marketing (Advances in International Marketing, Volume 20) (pp. 277–319). Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

  • Hicks, C., Rowe, G., Gribble, S. (2007). The view from the middle: Taking care of the young and the old. In A. Gupta & A. Harding (Eds.), Modelling our future: Population aging, health and aged care (p. 261–280). Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier.

  • Higgins, C., Duxbury, L., & Lyons, S. (2010). Coping with overload and stress: A comparison of professional men and women. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 72(2), 847–859.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hulland, J. (1999). Use of partial least squares (PLS) in strategic management research: A review of four recent studies. Strategic Management Journal, 20(2), 195–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahn, R., Wolfe, D., Quinn, R., Snoek, J., & Rosenthal, R. (1964). Organizational stress: Studies in role conflict and ambiguity. New York, NY: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, G. (2013). Superdads: how fathers balance work and family in the 21st century. NYU Press.

  • Keene, J., & Prokos, A. (2007). The sandwiched generation: Multiple caregiving responsibilities and the mismatch between actual and preferred work hours. Sociological Spectrum, 27(4), 365–387.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kossek, E., Colquitt, J., & Noe, R. (2001). Caregiving decisions, well-being, and performance: The effects of place and provider as a function of dependent type and work-family climates. The Academy of Management Journal, 44(1), 29–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York, NY: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, J., Foos, P., & Clow, C. (2010). Caring for one’s elders and family-to-work conflict. The Psychologist-Manager Journal, 13(1), 15–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacRae, H. (1998). Managing feelings: Caregiving as emotion work. Research on Aging, 20(1), 137–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, R., Winkel, D., & Wayne, J. (2014). A longitudinal examination of role overload and work–family conflict: The mediating role of interdomain transitions. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 35(1), 72–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montgomery, R., Gonyea, J., & Hooyman, N. (1985). Caregiving and the experience of subjective and objective burden. Family Relations, 34, 19–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parasuraman, S., Purohit, Y., Godshalk, V., & Beutell, N. (1996). Work and family variables, entrepreneurial career success, and psycho-logical well-being. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 48, 275–300.

    Google Scholar 

  • Park, R., & Jang, S. (2017). Family-role overload’s relationship with stress and satisfaction. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 32(1), 61–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavalko, E., & Gong, F. (2005). Work and family issues for midlife women and their families. In S. Bianchi, L. Casper, K. Christensen, & R. King (Eds.), Work, family, health and well-being (pp. 375–392). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinquart, M., & Sörensen, S. (2006). Gender differences in caregiver stressors, social resources, and health: An updated meta-analysis. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 61(1), 33–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinquart, M., & Sörensen, S. (2011). Spouses, adult children, and children-in-law as caregivers of older adults: A meta-analytic comparison. Psychology and Aging, 26(1), 1–14.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Powell, G., & Greenhaus, J. (2010). Sex, gender, and decisions at the family→ work interface. Journal of Management, 36(4), 1011–1039.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pyper, W. (2006). Balancing career and care. Perspectives, Vol 7 (11), (Cat. 75–001-XIE). Ottawa, ON: Statistics Canada.

  • Rantaneman, J., Kinnunen, U., Manuo, S., & Tillemann, K. (2011). Introducing theoretical approaches to work-life balance and testing a new typology among professionals. In S. Kaiser, M. Ringlsetetter, D. Eikhof, & M. Pina e Cunha (Eds.), Creating Balance? International Perspectives on the Work-life Integration of Professionals (pp. 27–46). Berlin Heidelberg: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubin, R., & White-Means, S. (2009). Informal caregiving: Dilemmas of sandwiched caregivers. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 30(3), 252–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaubroeck, J., & Jones, J. (2000). Antecedents of workplace emotional labour dimensions and moderators of their effects on physical symptoms. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 21(2), 163–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sims-Gould, J., Martin-Matthews, A., & Gignac, M. A. (2008). Episodic crisis in the provision of care to elderly relatives. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 27(2), 123–140.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, P. (2004). Elder care, gender, and work: The work-family issue of the 21st century. Berkeley Journal of Employment and Labor Law, 25(2), 351–399.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swinkels, J., van Tilburg, T., Verbakel, E., & Broese van Groenou, M. (2017). Explaining the gender gap in the caregiving burden of partner caregivers. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, gbx036. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbx036.

  • Tennstedt, S. L., & Gonyea, J. G. (1994). An agenda for work and eldercare research: Methodological challenges and future directions. Research on Aging, 16(1), 85–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, A., Pratt, C., & Eddy, L. (1995). Informal caregivers to aging family members: A critical review. Family Relations, 44(4), 402–411.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zarit, S., Reever, K., & Bach-Peterson, J. (1980). Relatives of the impaired elderly: correlates of feelings of burden. The Gerontologist, 20(6), 649–655.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zarit, S., Todd, P., & Zarit, J. (1986). Subjective burden of husbands and wives as caregivers: A longitudinal study. The Gerontologist, 26(3), 260–266.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, 55 Dundas St W, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Michael Halinski

  2. Sprott School of Business, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    Linda Duxbury & Maggie Stevenson

Authors
  1. Michael Halinski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Linda Duxbury
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Maggie Stevenson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Halinski.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Appendix

Appendix

Table 4 Demographic statistics and study variables for post hoc analysis
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Halinski, M., Duxbury, L. & Stevenson, M. Employed Caregivers’ Response to Family-Role Overload: the Role of Control-at-Home and Caregiver Type. J Bus Psychol 35, 99–115 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-019-09617-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-019-09617-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation