A Multidimensional Measurement of Work-Leisure Conflict

Abstract

Previous studies used only one item or one dimension to measure work-leisure conflict, which makes it impossible to present the nature of this conflict appropriately. To measure work-leisure conflict appropriately, we define work-leisure conflict as a form of interrole conflict in which the role pressures from work and leisure domains are mutually incompatible in some respect. Subsequently, we propose a multidimensional construct of work-leisure conflict and develop a corresponding scale, BI-WLCS. Through a rigorous development process, two directions, conflict due to work interfering with leisure and conflict due to leisure interfering with work, as well as three forms, time-based, strain-based, and behavior-based conflicts, of BI-WLCS were identified. The BI-WLCS was proven to have good fit, reliability and validity. This multidimensional scale provides an effective instrument for measuring levels of work-leisure conflict, and offers ways for stress management in practice and accentuates the research of work-leisure conflict issues academically.

Keywords:

• interrole conflict
• Q-sort method
• scale development
• work-family conflict