Abstract

This study aimed at examining the impact of work and family involvement in work-family conflict. Two hundred self selected non professional Igbo workers (95 males and 125 females) participated in the study. Carlson, Kacmar and William’s 18-item work-family conflict scale was used to assess workers’ experience of work-family conflict. In addition, Job involvement and family involvement questionnaires were employed to assess workers’ level of work and family involvement. The design of the study was a four group cross-sectional survey design. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the data. Results revealed that work involvement had no significant influence on workers’ experience of work-family conflict. Family involvement was shown to have a significant influence on workers’ experience of work-family conflict (F (1, 192) = 11.95 P>.001. The results further revealed a significant interaction effect between work involvement and family involvement on work-family conflict (F (1,192) = 8.90, P>.01. The results were discussed in relation to Nigerian work ethics and the Nigerian family culture where more value is placed on caring for members of one’s family than being more committed to one’s job duties.

Key words: Work-family conflict, work involvement and family involvement.