Double Crossed: The Spillover and Crossover Effects of Work Demands on Work Outcomes Through the Family

Abstract

This study expands our understanding of the negative impact of work demands on work outcomes by examining this impact in light of the family domain. We explore how the family domain plays a role in this process by considering mechanisms that capture both spillover and crossover effects. We investigate the spillover of work demands (i.e., role conflict and role overload) through work-to-family conflict on work attitudes (i.e., job satisfaction and affective commitment) and self-reported work behaviors (i.e., citizenship behavior and absenteeism). We also consider the double crossover of work demands through work-to-family conflict to stress transmission, and back to the incumbent’s family-to-work conflict on both attitudinal and behavioral work outcomes to examine the impact of work demands. Using a time-lagged matched sample of 389 dual career couples, we found spillover effects for the work attitudes and crossover effects for the work behaviors, suggesting work demands uniquely shape outcomes depending on the path they take. We close by offering implications for research and practice.