Gaining affective resources for work-family enrichment: A multisource experience sampling study of micro-role transitions

Abstract

Abstract The present study employed experience sampling methodology (ESM) and used workday breaks as a context to examine how work-family enrichment is fostered by affective resources gained through transitions to the family role during the workday. Drawing upon the resource-gain-development model of work-family enrichment ( Wayne, Grzywacz, Carlson, & Kacmar, 2007 ) and boundary transition theories ( Ashforth, Kreiner, & Fugate, 2000 ; Clark, 2000 ), we investigated how different types of encounters with family (family task, family interaction, and enjoyment of such an encounter) during a workday break influence affective resource gain, which then affects family-to-work enrichment and work and family outcomes. Using a sample of 90 hourly administrative workers (Nbreaks\xa0=\xa0566), the results indicated that enjoyment of the family task or interaction increased affective resources following the role transitions whereas resources were lost following low enjoyment. When aggregated at the person-level across the week, affective resource gain was related to family satisfaction and family functioning through work-family enrichment as a mediator. We merge and extend three major bodies of literature on work-family enrichment, work-family boundary transitions, and workday breaks to explicate the process by which enrichment unfolds when transitioning to and from a family role at work.