Title: The moderating effects of personality on work-family conflicts and stress among Malaysian working parents

Authors: Hazel Melanie Ramos; Michael Mustafa; Michelle Lee Chin Chin

Addresses: Institute of Work, Health & Organisations (I-WHO), The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia. ' Nottingham University Business School (NUBS), The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia. ' Institute of Work, Health & Organisations (I-WHO), The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract: The study examined the relationships between the two types of Work-Family Conflict (WFC): Work Interfering with Family (WIF) and Family Interfering with Work (FIW) and perceived stress as well as the role of the big five personality factors as possible moderators in the WFC-Stress relationship. Data was collected from 188 working parents in Malaysia. Hierarchical moderated regression analyses revealed that both WIF and FIW were significant predictors of stress. Among the big five personality factors, agreeableness and emotional stability moderated the WFC-stress relationships but in different ways. Agreeableness exacerbates stress as WIF increases but alleviates stress when FIW increases. Emotional stability on the other hand heightened stress when work interfered with the family. Practical implications and suggestions for reducing stress among working parents are discussed in accordance to the findings.

Keywords: work-family conflicts; work interference; family interference; stress predictors; personality factors; moderating effects; Malaysia; working parents; families; moderators; hierarchical regression analysis; moderated regression analysis; agreeableness; emotional stability; relationships; management practice.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMP.2012.048074

International Journal of Management Practice, 2012 Vol.5 No.3, pp.225 - 244

Published online: 19 Jul 2012 *

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