The interactive effects of leader–member exchange, gender and spouse's gender role orientation on work interference with family conflict

Abstract

Based on social support and gender role theories, we examined the direct and interactive effects of leader–member exchange, gender and spouse's gender role orientation on work–family conflict. Survey data were collected from matched dyads from 185 dual-earner couples in Sri Lanka. The results show that leader–member exchange is negatively related to work interference with family. There is also support for crossover effects among couples such that individuals with spouses who have a traditional gender role orientation experience greater work interference with family conflict. Finally, there is a three-way interaction such that a spouse's gender role orientation moderates the relationship between leader–member exchange and work interference with family conflict differently for men and women.

Keywords::

• gender role orientation
• leader–member exchange
• social support theory
• work–family conflict

Funding

This work was supported by the Department of Management & Marketing at the University of Melbourne [through general funds provided for Ph.D. student support].