The moderating effect of work-linked couple relationships and work-family integration on the spouse instrumental support-emotional exhaustion relationship.
Based on boundary theory and conservation of resources theory, we argue that employees with a spouse in the same occupation or workplace (referred to as work-linked couples) enhance the effectiveness of spousal instrumental support in reducing emotional exhaustion. In the first study of nurses (n = 103), we found that work-linked couples have more highly integrated work and family roles than participants whose spouses did not share an occupation or workplace. In a second study of working adults (n = 484), we found that work-linked couples have a stronger relationship between spouse instrumental support and the reduction of emotional exhaustion; this moderated relationship was mediated by their work-family integration. We discuss the implications of these findings for the study of work and family roles, social support, and emotional exhaustion, and provide suggestions for future research.
Department of Management and Marketing, Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0225, USA. jhalbesleben@cba.ua.edu
Jonathon R B
JR
Halbesleben
Kelly L
KL
Zellars
Dawn S
DS
Carlson
Pamela L
PL
Perrewé
Denise
D
Rotondo
D000328:Adult; D004644:Emotions; D005195:Family Relations; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000523:psychology*