Reciprocal relations between working time arrangements and work-family conflict over time

Abstract

Thus far, many studies on the relationship between working time arrangements and work-family conflict have been cross-sectional in nature, where the direction of influence is difficult to interpret and causal conclusions cannot be drawn. The few existing longitudinal studies on this topic have mainly focused on the normal direction of the causal relationship, that is, on the impact of working time arrangements on work-family conflict over time. To date, however, the reverse relationship, that is, the effects of work-family conflict on adjustments in work schedules and working hours over time, is less clear. Because work-family conflict is highly prevalent in the working population, further insight in this reverse relationship is invaluable to gain insight into secondary selection processes, which may have significant undesirable/unintended implications for labor force participation. Based on data from the ongoing Maastricht Cohort Study, the impact of various characteristics of working time arrangements (e.g., work schedules, working hours, overtime work, and hours control) both in the etiology and consequences of conflict between work and family life over time was investigated in several longitudinal studies, on which will be reported and reflected in this chapter.