The Relationship between Work-Family Conflict and Presenteeism in Working Parents

The Role of Recovery Experiences and Work Engagement

Abstract

Introduction: Work-family conflict (WFC) is associated with workers' mental health and productivity, significantly impacting organizational and social outcomes. Those raising a child of an early age are particularly susceptible. However, limited research has focused on the association among WFC, psychological distress, and presenteeism in this population. Based on the Conservation of Resources theory, this study aimed to examine the associations among WFC, psychological distress, and presenteeism in workers with their youngest child of elementary school age or younger and to explore the roles of recovery experience (RE) and work engagement (WE) in these associations. Methods: An online survey was conducted with 185 workers whose youngest child was 12 years old or younger. WFC, psychological distress, presenteeism, RE, and WE were measured. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to examine associations among variables. Results: SEM results indicated that WFC was associated with presenteeism via psychological distress (indirect effect β = .36), yielding a significant total indirect effect (β = .41). RE did not moderate the association between WFC and psychological distress; however, the indirect path from WFC to psychological distress via RE was significant. WE showed a negative association with presenteeism (β = -.17) and positive association with RE (β = .21). Conclusion: WFC is associated with presenteeism via psychological distress in workers with young children. Effective presenteeism countermeasures may require coordinated efforts combining workplace health initiatives to enhance WE and ensure RE with community health support to reduce WFC.