Work-Family Conflict in Construction: Case for a Finer-Grained Analysis

A multidimensional work-family conflict (WFC) scale was tested using a sample of 169 workers in the Australian construction industry. The construction sample showed higher mean scores for time-based, strain-based, and behavior-based work-interference with family (WIF) than scores reported in international studies that have used the multidimensional scale. Waged construction workers, who work on-site in direct construction activity, reported higher levels of time-based and strain-based WIF than salaried workers, who work predominantly in office-based roles. Mean levels of family-interference with work (FIW) in the construction sample were generally comparable to levels reported in previous research. A principal components analysis revealed four clear dimensions of WFC. These dimensions were significantly correlated with other variables of theoretical relevance indicating acceptable criterion validity. The experience of WIF varied by workers’ employment situation, sex, and work location, while the experience of FIW varied by workers’ age. The results suggest that the use of global measures of WFC might mask important differences in construction workers’ experiences at the work-family interface.