Relationships Between Work-to-Family Conflict and the Food Domain for Dual-Earner Parents With Adolescent Children.

Berta Schnettler,María Lapo,Héctor Poblete,Germán Lobos,Edgardo Miranda-Zapata,Ligia Orellana,Katherine Beroiza,Cristian Adasme-Berríos

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.752209

Abstract

The impact of work-to-family conflict (WtoFC) can extend beyond family and work, and to other domains that contribute to well-being, such as the food domain. This study examined associations between WtoFC, perception of atmosphere of family meals (AFM), and satisfaction with food-related life (SWFoL) in dual-earner parents with adolescent children, and tested the mediating role of AFM between WtoFC and SWFoL. Questionnaires were administered to 473 different-sex dual-earner parents and one of their adolescent children (mean age 12.5 years, 51.4% male) in Temuco, Chile. Parents responded to a measure of work-to-family conflict; the three family members answered the Project-EAT Atmosphere of family meals scale, and the Satisfaction with Food-related Life Scale. Analyses were conducted using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model and structural equation modeling. Results showed a negative association from WtoFC to SWFoL in both parents, while a more positive perception of atmosphere of family meals was linked to higher SWFoL in the three family members. Moreover, WtoFC was negatively linked to SWFoL in parents, while only mothers' WtoFC had a negative association with their adolescent children's SWFoL. Policymakers and organizations can contribute to workers' and their families' food-related well-being by fostering policies and measures to reduce WtoFC.

Highlights

Work-to-family conflict (WtoFC) has a negative influence on other life domains besides work and family, such as health, and overall life satisfaction (Vieira et al, 2018; Yucel and Latshaw, 2020a,b; Matias and Recharte, 2021)
Food consumption occurs in a social context (Schnettler et al, 2020a), and the impact of WtoFC on the food domain might extend beyond the individual to those in their close social environment
We argue that WtoFC may deplete personal resources that otherwise may be invested in the food domain, resulting in lower satisfaction with food-related life (SWFoL) in workers, their partner and adolescent children via crossover

Summary

Introduction

Work-to-family conflict (WtoFC) has a negative influence on other life domains besides work and family, such as health, and overall life satisfaction (Vieira et al, 2018; Yucel and Latshaw, 2020a,b; Matias and Recharte, 2021). Work-Family Conflict and the Food Domain negative outcomes may encompass more than nutritional issues, extending to the social dimension of food consumption (e.g., the perception of the atmosphere of meals, AFM) and the overall level of well-being in the food domain. Food consumption occurs in a social context (Schnettler et al, 2020a), and the impact of WtoFC on the food domain might extend beyond the individual to those in their close social environment. This study focused on different-sex dualearner parents with adolescent children, testing the influence of both parents’ WtoFC on their own and on their adolescent child’s SWFoL

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