Skaitmeninių socialinių kontaktų ir darbo–šeimos vaidmenų konflikto vertinimas Lietuvoje : svarbiausi nacionaliniai 10-osios Europos socialinio tyrimo bangos rezultatai

Abstract

Digitalization has led to major changes in communi cation both in work and family life. However, these changes are like a double-edged sword: new pos sibilities of more frequent contact through digital means and new threats of greater distractions from family or work. Therefore, more thorough analysis of digital social contacts in work and family life is required. Abendroth with colleagues (2018) proposed a rotating module for Round 10 of the ESS which 1) identifies different dimensions of digital social con tact (frequency, content, costs and benefits involved) to allow for a broader understanding of digital phenomena, and 2) creates new possibilities from a European country-comparative perspective for mul tivariate analyses of the determinants of digital social contacts (e.g., social inequalities) and their conse quences, especially for relationship quality, work-life balance, and well-being. In this scientific study data of ESS10 edition 1.0 was used. Sample of Europe (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia) consisted of 18060 respondents, 1659 of them were from Lithuania. Firstly, frequencies of face to face and digital social contacts in work and family life in Lithuania and Europe were analyzed. Then costs and benefits of digital social contacts, as well as relationships between different forms of contact and relationship quality were examined. Finally, work-family conflict was analyzed with rela tion to relationship quality at work and family and to wellbeing indicators such as life and job satisfaction, happiness, subjective health evaluation. Digital social contacts in work and family life were included into this analysis of work-family conflict both as direct factors and as mediators/ moderators. The main findings revealed that in Lithuania digital social contacts were used less frequently than face to face ones both in work (communicating with a leader and co-workers) and family (communicating with a child aged 12 or over and parents) life. In comparison with other European countries, Lithua nians used face to face contact with a child aged 12 or over and with co-workers less often, but the use of digital contact with a child and parents when you can see each other on the screen or with a leader using telephone was more frequent. Besides, Lithua nians were more favorable when evaluating benefits of digital social contacts and less strict when evaluat ing costs except the evaluation of the statement that online and mobile communication exposes people to misinformation. Both in Lithuania and other European countries work-family conflict on average was experienced only sometimes. Lower relationship quality in work and family life was related to higher work-family conflict and higher work-family conflict was related to lower life and job satisfaction, less happiness and worse subjective health. Work-family conflict was not related to the frequency of digital social contacts at work and family in Lithuania directly. However, fre quency of digital social contacts with a child aged 12 or over (communication via text, email or messaging apps) mediated the relationship between relation ship quality with a child and work-family conflict. Frequency of digital social contacts with a child aged 12 or over (communication via text, email or messag ing apps or seeing each other on the screen) also acted as a moderator in the relationship between work-family conflict and happiness. Frequency of digital social contacts with co-workers (communi cation using a phone) moderated the relationship between work-family conflict and job satisfaction. More significant results of digital social contacts as direct factors and mediators/ moderators in the analysis of work-family conflict were found in general ESS10 sample (edition 1.0) than in Lithuania. With reference to literature review and data analysis, recommendations for practitioners and directions for future research are proposed.