DEVELOPING AND TESTING AN INTEGRATIVE MODEL OF THE WORK-FAMILY INTERFACE

An integrative model of the work-family interface was developed and te sted. This model extends prior work by Frone, Russell, and Cooper (199 2a). Although the present model adopts the distinction between work-to -family and family-to-work conflict, several important changes have be en incorporated. First, a more explicit attempt is made to model the r eciprocal (i.e., feedback) relations between work and family life. Sec ond, a distinction is drawn between proximal and distal predictors of work-family conflict. Third, the relations between work-family conflic t and role-related affect have been differentiated into predictive and outcome relations. Finally, role-related behavior and behavioral inte ntions have been explicitly incorporated into the model. Data were obt ained from a sample of 372 employed adults who were married and/or par ents. The model was tested with structural equation modeling technique s and the results were supportive. The present model provides a genera l framework to help organize past research and guide future research o n the work-family interface. (C) 1997 Academic Press.