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A Cross-National Study on the Antecedents of Work–Life Balance from the Fit and Balance Perspective

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Abstract

Drawing on the perceived work–family fit and balance perspective, this study investigates demands and resources as antecedents of work–life balance (WLB) across four countries (New Zealand, France, Italy and Spain), so as to provide empirical cross-national evidence. Using structural equation modelling analysis on a sample of 870 full time employees, we found that work demands, hours worked and family demands were negatively related to WLB, while job autonomy and supervisor support were positively related to WLB. We also found evidence that resources (job autonomy and supervisor support) moderated the relationships between demands and work–life balance, with high resources consistently buffering any detrimental influence of demands on WLB. Furthermore, our study identified additional predictors of WLB that were unique to some national contexts. For example, in France and Italy, overtime hours worked were negatively associated with WLB, while parental status was positively associated with WLB. Overall, the implications for theory and practice are discussed.

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Notes

  1. This study is part of a larger study of work-family issues (Haar et al. 2014) that included three additional samples. In these samples, a shorter survey instrument was required and the variables used in the present study were not collected.

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  1. Jarrod M. Haar and Albert Sune: Denotes shared first authorship.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Business, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand

    Jarrod M. Haar

  2. Department of Management, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, ESEIAAT, C. Colom 11, 08222, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain

    Albert Sune

  3. Department of Management, University of Bologna, Via Capo di Lucca, 34, 40126, Bologna, Italy

    Marcello Russo

  4. KEDGE Business School, 680 Cours de la Liberation, 33405, Talence Cedex, Bordeaux, France

    Marcello Russo

  5. School of Management (ESG), Université du Québec A Montréal (UQAM), Case postale 6192, succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC, H3C 4R2, Canada

    Ariane Ollier-Malaterre

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  1. Jarrod M. Haar
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  2. Albert Sune
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Correspondence to Albert Sune.

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Haar, J.M., Sune, A., Russo, M. et al. A Cross-National Study on the Antecedents of Work–Life Balance from the Fit and Balance Perspective. Soc Indic Res 142, 261–282 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-018-1875-6

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