Leisure-Time Physical Activity Moderates the Longitudinal Associations between Work-Family Spillover and Physical Health

Abstract

Previous research has documented associations between negative and positive work-family spillover and physical health. Using an effort-recovery model, the study tested the hypothesis that engagement in greater leisure-time physical activity would facilitate recovery processes that buffer the negative health effects of increasing work-family spillover. Employed adults (N = 1,354) completed two waves of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MI-DUS). Results indicated that an increase in negative work-family spillover across nine years was associated with decreased physical health and increased number of chronic conditions at Time 2. Moreover, more time spent on moderate leisure-time physical activity buffered many of the associations between increasing negative spillover and declining health. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Keywords:

• leisure-time physical activity (LTPA)
• work-family spillover
• MIDUS
• physical health