Help or harm? The effects of ICTs usage on work–life balance
Journal of Managerial Psychology
ISSN: 0268-3946
Article publication date: 4 October 2019
Issue publication date: 23 October 2019
Abstract
Purpose
Leveraging boundary theory and person–environment fit theory, the purpose of this paper is to propose a model that illustrates the process by which nonwork-related information and communication technologies (ICTs) usage during office hours affects family-to-work conflict (FWC) and work–family balance satisfaction (WFBS), and the moderating effect of family–work segmentation preference (FWSP) in that process.
Design/methodology/approach
Analyses using PROCESS were conducted to analyze the proposed relationships on survey-collected data.
Findings
Augmented ICTs usage led to greater perceptions of FWC, though the strength of this association was contingent on FWSP in that integration preference buffered ICTs usage’s detrimental effects. Moreover, ICTs usage was shown to exert an effect on WFBS through FWC. The results indicated a mediated moderation pattern such that the moderating role of ICTs usage and FWSP on WFBS was mediated by FWC.
Originality/value
By focusing on ICTs usage for family reasons at work, the study filled a formerly acknowledged gap in the research field regarding how nonwork-related ICTs usage at work affected work–life balance.
Keywords
Citation
Wang, X., Gao, L. and Lin, Z. (2019), "Help or harm? The effects of ICTs usage on work–life balance", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 34 No. 8, pp. 533-545. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-02-2019-0093
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited