ABSTRACT
Despite recognition that farming has substantial economic uncertainty, few recent studies have investigated how economic stress may impact the family dynamic among family farmers. This study sought to address this gap in the literature by examining both personal and global economic stress as a predictor of family distress and work-family conflict among a sample of farm couples. Participating in the study were 217 husband-wife dyads (434 individuals) in which farming was the primary occupation of the husband. A cross-sectional survey design was used to assess economic stress, family distress, and work-family conflict. Spouses completed separate online surveys to ensure independent responding. Both individual (spillover) and dyadic (crossover) effects were examined. Results demonstrated farmers' personal economic stress was positively related to individual and spousal family distress. Furthermore, family distress was a mediator of the relationship between personal economic stress and work-family conflict for both farmers and their spouses. In sum, economic stress is an important variable to consider when examining the work-family interface of farm couples. Moreover, personal economic stress had a larger impact on family distress and work-family conflict than global economic stress. By providing a better understanding of the family mechanisms by which economic stress may impact farm couples, it is hoped the current results can be used to assist in the development and application of mental health resources for farm families.
Subject(s)
Family Conflict , Spouses , Cross-Sectional Studies , Farms , Humans , Spouses/psychology , Stress, Psychological , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Few studies have examined how work-life balance may influence college student mental health. The current study addresses this gap in the literature by examining the process by which work-life balance may lead to college student anxiety and depressive symptoms. Participants: A total of 111 students from a private Midwestern college were sampled between October 2017 and November 2017. Method: A cross-sectional survey design was used to assess work-life balance, perceived stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Results: Work-life balance was negatively related to students' perceived stress, general anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Path analysis results indicate that perceived stress fully mediated the relationship between work-life balance and anxiety, as well as the relationship between work-life balance and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Work-life balance is an important antecedent of college students' mental health. Educational institutions should place more importance on assisting students with work-life balance in order to improve their college experience.
Subject(s)
Depression , Work-Life Balance , Anxiety , Cross-Sectional Studies , Humans , Students , UniversitiesABSTRACT
This study expands upon the contextualization of the work-family interface by examining positive work-family experiences within the farming industry. Both individual and crossover effects were examined among a sample of 217 married farm couples. Results demonstrated multiple significant relationships between self-reported attitudes, work-family enrichment, and health outcomes. In addition, crossover effects reveal the importance of individual attitudes (husband work engagement and wife farm satisfaction) for spousal work-family enrichment and health outcomes. Furthermore, individual work-family enrichment was positively related to spousal psychological health and negatively related to spousal physical symptoms. Many of these findings remained significant after controlling for work-family conflict. Overall, our results suggest the potential beneficial impact of the integrated work-family dynamic associated with the farming profession for positive work-family experiences. Implications of these findings, as well as directions for future research, are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record
Subject(s)
Attitude , Family Relations , Farmers/psychology , Interpersonal Relations , Job Satisfaction , Personal Satisfaction , Adult , Farms , Female , Health Status , Health Status Indicators , Humans , Iowa , Male , Mental Health , Middle Aged , Spouses , WorkABSTRACT
This study extends prior college student employment research by examining health as an outcome variable. Using 2-wave data from a sample of 216 student workers, this study examined work-school conflict as a predictor of psychological and physical health among working college students. Additionally, 3 resource-providing variables--work-school facilitation, supervisor work-school support, and personal fulfillment at work--were tested for buffering effects in the relation between work-school conflict and health. Results demonstrated that work-school conflict was a significant predictor of psychological health but not physical health. All 3 resource-providing variables ameliorated the negative relation between work-school conflict and psychological health, whereas only personal fulfillment weakened the positive relation between work-school conflict and physical symptoms. These findings suggest the benefits of work-school facilitation, supervisor work-school support, and personal fulfillment in minimizing the detrimental effects of work-school conflict on health outcomes. Theoretical and practical implications for researchers, educational institutions, and organizations are discussed.
