What does it mean to want it all? : The effect of gender role orientation on work-life conflict and employee health

Abstract

The extant work-life conflict literature focuses on differences in conflict related to differences between men and women based on biological sex even though work and life domain salience has become increasingly similar between men and women. Similarly, gender role orientations have become more nontraditional over time with both men and women valuing participation in both work and life domains. Given that, there is limited support for differences in work-life conflict related to biological sex, the current studies examine the effect of gender role orientation on the relationship between antecedents and work-life conflict, and the relationship between work-life conflict and individual and organizational outcomes. Overall, the relationship between antecedents and work-life conflict does not depend on gender role orientation. However, results support that the relationship between work-life conflict and outcomes may be dependent on gender role orientation. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.