Work-family conflict, part I: Antecedents of work-family conflict in national collegiate athletic association division I-A certified athletic trainers.
BACKGROUND
Work-family conflict (WFC) involves discord that arises when the demands of work interfere with the demands of family or home life. Long work hours, minimal control over work schedules, and time spent away from home are antecedents to WFC. To date, few authors have examined work-family conflict within the athletic training profession.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the occurrence of WFC in certified athletic trainers (ATs) and to identify roots and factors leading to quality-of-life issues for ATs working in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-A setting.


METHODS
Survey questionnaire and follow-up, in-depth, in-person interviews.


METHODS
Division I-A universities sponsoring football.


METHODS
A total of 587 ATs (324 men, 263 women) responded to the questionnaire. Twelve ATs (6 men, 6 women) participated in the qualitative portion: 2 head ATs, 4 assistant ATs, 4 graduate assistant ATs, and 2 AT program directors.


METHODS
Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine whether workload and travel predicted levels of WFC. Analyses of variance were calculated to investigate differences among the factors of sex, marital status, and family status. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and then analyzed using computer software as well as member checks and peer debriefing. The triangulation of the data collection and multiple sources of qualitative analysis were utilized to limit potential researcher prejudices.


RESULTS
Regression analyses revealed that long work hours and travel directly contributed to WFC. In addition to long hours and travel, inflexible work schedules and staffing patterns were discussed by the interview participants as antecedents to WFC. Regardless of sex (P = .142), marital status (P = .687), family status (P = .055), or age of children (P = .633), WFC affected Division I-A ATs.


CONCLUSIONS
No matter their marital or family status, ATs employed at the Division I-A level experienced difficulties balancing their work and home lives. Sources of conflict primarily stemmed from the consuming nature of the profession, travel, inflexible work schedules, and lack of full-time staff members.
Mazerolle
Stephanie M
SM
Department of Kinesiology, Neag School of Education, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-1110, USA. Stephanie.mazerolle@uconn.edu
Bruening
Jennifer E
JE
Casa
Douglas J
DJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D011594:Psychometrics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology*; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult