Family-Friendly Environments and U.S. Army Soldier Performance and Work Outcomes

Abstract

This study examined how perceptions of a family-friendly environment relate to physical fitness, efficacy beliefs, and intentions to remain in the military. Survey data and actual performance measures from 230 U.S. Army soldiers were examined. Findings indicated that a perceived family-friendly environment was positively related to intentions to remain in the military upon fulfillment of obligation. Additionally, perceptions of family-friendly environments were positively related to collective efficacy perceptions. These findings provide strong support for the need to create and maintain a strong family-friendly work environment, not only to improve the well-being of employees but also to benefit the organization's retention efforts, obtained from employees being more willing to remain with the organization.

Notes

The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of the Department of Defense (paragraph 4–3, AR 360–5) or the U.S. Army Medical Command.

The findings described in this article were collected under WRAIR Research Protocol #700 entitled “A Human Dimensions Assessment of the Impact of OPTEMPO on the Forward-Deployed Soldier” under the direction of C.A. Castro (1998). The authors thank Amy B. Adler, Robert Bienvenu, Jeffrey Thomas, and Carol Dolan, co-investigators on this research project. We also thank Rich Arvey, Stephanie Payne, and Laura Koehly for their comments on earlier drafts of this article and Millie Calhoun, Coleen Crouch, Alexandra Hanson, Tommy Jackson, Rachel Prayner, Shelly Robertson, and Angela Salvi for their excellent technical support. This research was funded by the Research Area Directorate for Military Operational Medicine U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command in Ft. Detrick, Maryland, and the U.S. Army, Europe, Heidelberg, Germany.

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