Work-family conflict during COVID-19 outbreak: The moderation effect of children’s internet addiction and home-based teleworking

Dissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Statistics and Information Management, specialization in Marketing Research and CRMDuring COVID-19 pandemic, internet along with information and communication technologies (ICTs) were decisive in overcoming distances and minimizing social isolation. They have ensured distance learning, but also business continuity, through the general implementation of teleworking. Thus, parents had to perform different roles within the same environment, which were no longer separated spatially. This context makes it difficult to reach an equilibrium, especially when parents have also to prevent the necessary internet usage of their children from becoming an addiction. Hence, it is proposed a study to assess (1) the causation and moderation effect of internet addiction on family-to-work conflict and (2) the moderation effect of teleworking on work-family balance, considering two potential drivers: family-to-work conflict, caused by internet addiction and work-to-family conflict, caused by role transitions. Data was collected from European parents with resident children. As a result, it was found that internet addiction is a predictor and a moderator of work-to-family transitions effect, at the same time that, teleworking is a moderator of family-to-work conflict effect on the perceived balance. The research will be aligned with boundary theory, and it will consider the second lockdown since the pandemic started. Theoretical and practical implications will be discussed