The Gender-Specific Influence of Work-Family Conflict on the Frequency of Alcohol Consumption

Linda Maciejewski , Leipzig University
Julia Tuppat, Leipzig University

The study examines the relationship between Work-Family Conflict and alcohol consumption, focusing on both Work-to-Family Conflict (WTFC) and Family-to-Work Conflict (FTWC) by gender. Using longitudinal data from the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, this study differentiates between the two directions of Work-Family Conflict and employs Emotion Regulation Theory and Conservation of Resources Theory to propose opposing mechanisms. Our results reveal that both WTFC and FTWC are positively correlated with the frequency of alcohol consumption. Regarding the magnitude of the effects, FTWC has a greater impact on alcohol consumption. Looking at this relationship by gender, the results are no longer significant for men, but only for women. Here, FTWC has a stronger effect on the frequency of alcohol consumption than WTFC. These results highlight the importance of considering the direction of Work-Family Conflict when examining its impact on the frequency of drinking alcohol by gender. It seems that women are the main driver to explain this relationship. These findings highlight the need for further research on the role of coping motives by gender in the context of Work-Family Conflict.

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 Presented in Session 67. Flash session Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health, Wellbeing and Morbidity