![Sample our Health and Social Care journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5938/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Health-Social-Care.jpg"})
Abstract
Research into the work–home interface has mainly focused on work-related variables, leaving aspects associated with the home domain relatively understudied. This investigation examined both facilitation and conflict between home and work in a sample of 260 working mothers with children up to four years of age. Potential home domain predictors of burnout were examined, using structural equation modeling. A neglected home-related variable is satisfaction with substitute childcare. Thus, a new scale was developed to measure satisfaction with infant day care centers. Results show a substantial influence of home-based variables, thus supporting the need for inclusion of such variables. Parenting appraisals are related to home–work conflict and facilitation, and ultimately show the expected associations with burnout. Satisfaction with infant day care influences burnout through parenting stress and satisfaction with the parental role. These results are discussed in the light of existing literature and implications for practice are considered.
Notes
1. Chang et al. (Citation2010) argued that more consistency in the conceptualization of work–home constructs is needed. Indeed, Kinnunen et al. (Citation2006) studied work–family spillover, Greenhaus and Powell (Citation2006) work–family enrichment and Van Steenbergen et al. (Citation2007) used the term work–family facilitation. However, most work–family researchers now agree that these terms point to different constructs and are related to different linking mechanisms (for more details see Carlson, Kacmar, Wayne, & Grzywacz, Citation2006; Van Steenbergen et al., Citation2007). A related line of research has focused on the integration of both domains (e.g. Bailyn & Harrington, Citation2004). Because this study builds on the work of Van Steenbergen et al. (Citation2007), the constructs of home–work facilitation and conflict are used here.
2. Because the vast majority of Dutch parents choose formal day care centers for their children, the current study focuses exclusively on this form of day care. It is important to note that the Dutch formal childcare situation may be different from other countries. It is generally quite positively endorsed. For example, in 2009, 40% of Dutch households with children younger than four years, mentioned formal childcare as the most important form of child day care (Statistics Netherlands, Citation2011). It is used with reasonable frequency. Roughly a quarter of all Dutch children between 0 and 4 years old attend a day care center (Vermeer et al., Citation2008). There is financial support: Dutch parents receive a government contribution for the costs of childcare. There is some quality control: All childcare centers are regularly checked by the national public health center.