Getting by with a Little Help from Workplace Friends: Workplace Culture, Social Support, and Family Cohesion

Abstract

Studies have shown a negative association between certain aspects of workplace culture and family functioning. Using a neo-institutional framework, we examine whether workplace social support moderates the influence of three features of workplace culture—time demands, work pressure, and work strain—on family cohesion. Analyzing survey data from 312 individuals in dual-earner relationships, we control for number of children, education, income, employment status, and occupational status. We find that workplace social support is directly associated with family cohesion but does not serve as a buffer between dimensions of workplace culture and family cohesion.

KEYWORDS:

• dual earners
• family cohesion
• social support
• workplace culture

Notes

Notes. Coefficients above the line are for women (top right); coefficients below the line are for men (bottom left).

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Note. *p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

The value of Cronbach's alpha increases as scale items are added. Thus, it is possible to achieve a large alpha value due to item number and not because of scale reliability (Field, 2005). Though a possible limitation, the two-item scale used in our analysis has a relatively high alpha value.