Using Objective Measures To Capture Work-Family Conflict

Research conducted on WFC (WFC) is primarily measured using self-reported subjective scales that fail to encapsulate the entirety of the WFC construct. Many authors have acknowledged the importance of generating a complementary objective WFC scale, in an effort to enhance one\u27s ability to predict work-related outcomes within and between individuals. The purpose of the current study was to identify objective items measuring work-interfering-with-family (and vice versa) that can more accurately predict relevant outcomes (i.e., life, family, and job satisfaction; psychological strain; turnover; burnout; health; organizational commitment; depression) when used in conjunction with currently existing subjective work-interfering-with-family (WIF) and family-interfering-with-work (FIW) measures. Through a three Wave data collection process, a new objective scale was preliminarily validated. This 45 item objective WIF scale predicts four outcomes above and beyond that of a subjective WIF scale: burnout, depression, turnover intentions, and psychological strain. The 18 item FIW scale predicts two outcomes beyond that of the subjective FIW scale: burnout and depression. The use of the new scale for cross-person prediction is further discussed