Examining intercollegiate athletic department employees’ workplace behaviors using latent profile analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACT Research examining workplace behaviors has increased over the last 20 years; however, much of this research within the sport context has looked at these issues using a variable-centered approach (e.g., examining work–life interface of mothers). This type of research is useful in describing how work behaviors manifest within specific populations. It does not, however, tell us about how the interaction of multiple variables impacts outcomes. Using social role theory as the guiding framework, the purpose of the study was to examine the presence of naturally occurring groups across a range of workplace behaviors within intercollegiate athletic department employees (N = 4,672) using latent profile analysis. Results indicate naturally occurring groups are present, and contrary to prior research, women were overrepresented in groups with lower levels of conflict (i.e., work–family and family–work) and underrepresented in groups with the higher levels of conflict, whereas men tended to be overrepresented in groups with higher levels of conflict and underrepresented in groups with lower levels of conflict. Further, both men and women with children were overrepresented in the profiles with higher levels of conflict. This work has important theoretical and practical implications for workplace behavior and organizational leadership.