The Effects of Social Support on Work-Family Guilt: A Prospective Investigation
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Abstract
The role of received social support in the experience of work-family conflict and guilt was investigated in a sample of 358 dual-earner parents using latent variable path analysis. Additionally, the effects of predictors on reported guilt were analyzed using a prospective sample with data collected three months later (N = 134). Work support for work predicted lower levels of strain-based work interference with family, and both strain- and time-based family interference with work. Work support for family predicted lower levels of time-based work interference with family, and spousal support predicted lower strain-based family interference with work. Work-family conflict experienced at time one predicted work-family guilt in both the cross-sectional and prospective samples, such that decreased conflict was associated with lower levels of work-family guilt. No gender differences were found between pathway coefficients; however, gender differences were found in three categories of received support. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.