The farming family work environment: consideration of a hypothesised model of role interference

Background: Existing models of the work-home interface and work-family conflict has traditionally considered role interference to occur from only the two domains of work and home (Carlson et al., 2000; Greenhaus & Beutell, 1985; Frone et al., 1992). However, more recent research suggests that maintaining balance between these domains requires consideration of multiple potential sources of conflict (Pocock et al., 2009). This difference in perspective is particularly relevant to family business environments which present more complex interfaces due to dual roles, blurred boundaries, and succession issues (Danes & Morgan, 2004). The aim of the current research was to explore the factors which affected role completion in the context of a farming family business. Research has suggested that the farming family work-home interface may be unique to other workplace structures and therefore likely to have a differential impact on health and well-being (McShane & Quirk, 2009).\ud \ud Methods: Participants (N=278) from farming families from across Australia and farming produce types were invited to complete a questionnaire package which explored the relationship between characteristics of the working environment and reported levels of psychological distress, work burnout, and life satisfaction.\ud \ud Findings: Factors that interfered with role completion originated from multiple sources such as personal characteristics, work demands, home demands, and external demands. Findings from correlation matrices, exploratory factor analysis and path analysis (χ² (₁₈)=23.98, p=.156) indicate that work stressors, role interference, and low commitment and identification with farming results in higher reported psychological distress and work burnout and lower reported life satisfaction.\ud \ud Discussion: Communication, trust and commitment to farm and family appeared to be important in reducing the impact of role interference on well-being. Outcomes of the research have resulted in a hypothesised contextually specific model of role interference for farming families of Australia