Work social supports, role stressors, and work–family conflict: The moderating effect of age

Abstract

The current study examined whether important distinctions are masked if participant age is ignored when modeling relationships among constructs associated with the work–family interface. An initial omnibus model of social support, work role stressors, and work–family conflict was tested. Multiple groups analyses were then conducted to investigate possible age differences in the patterns of relationships among these constructs for three age groups (28 and under, 29–45, and 46 and older). Several constructs in the model, including role stressors, social support, and work–family conflict, demonstrated mean level differences across the three age groups. Of greater significance, the relationships of some sources of social support and work–family conflict with other constructs in the model differed as a function of age group. Results suggest that conclusions drawn from the omnibus model take on a slightly different and more complicated meaning in the multiple groups analysis. These results have implications for how future research on the work–family interface should be conducted.