Do Personal Resources Make a Difference in the Relation between Work-family Conflict and Burnout among Working Mothers?

Abstract

Drawing on the conservation of resources theory, the present study addressed a vacuum in work-family conflict (WFC) literature by examining the moderating roles of personal resources (emotional intelligence and resilience) in the relationship between WFC (work interference with family─ WIF and family interference with work─ FIW) and burnout among working mothers. Data were collected from a sample of 615 working mothers in some Nigerian banks, and were analyzed with moderated hierarchical regression analysis. Results showed that high WIF and FIW were positively associated with overall burnout and its dimensions. Emotional intelligence and resilience acted as buffer in the relations of WIF and FIW with overall burnout and its dimensions. Specifically, the negative impacts of WIF and FIW on overall burnout and its dimensions were weaker for working mothers with higher emotional intelligence and resilience. These findings suggest that organisation can reduce or prevent the negative impact of WFC on burnout among working mothers by strengthening their personal or adaptive resources.