Abstract
Background: Although work-family balance (WFB) has received much attention from researchers, there are relatively few studies exploring WFB in parents of children with disabilities. Such research is necessary because caregiving demands are greater among these parents than those caring for typically developing children. Objective: The objective was to examine the impact of person and context elements of Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model (BM) on WFB among employed parents of children with disabilities. Hypotheses stated that personal resources, personal demands, and microsystem, exosystem, and macrosystem variables would impact work interference with family (WIF) and family interference with work (FIW). Method: Parents (N = 145) from several English-speaking countries responded to an internet survey. They were recruited through advocacy groups for children with disabilities. They were employed at least part-time with a child under 18 years of age and diagnosed with a disability living with them. Results: Regression analyses indicated that some personal resources (e.g. work-family enrichment) and some personal demands (e.g. rated severity of child disability) predicted both WIF and FIW in the expected direction. Microsystem (i.e. supervisory support) and exosystem (i.e. organizational culture) variables predicted lower levels of WIF and FIW. However, macrosystem variables (i.e. national family supportive policies) did not. Conclusions: The BM is useful for understanding WFB among employed parents of children with disabilities. Future research should include incorporating more aspects of the BM when exploring parents’ experiences. For example, examination of the chronosystem may be particularly important as the demands of parenting children with disabilities shift as children age.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 703-718 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Child and Youth Care Forum |
| Volume | 48 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Oct 2019 |
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Keywords
- Children
- Cross-national
- Disabilities
- Employed parents
- Work-family conflict
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Cross-National Examination of Work-Family in Parents of Children with Disabilities Using a Bioecological Model. / Brown, Theresa J.; Sumner, Kenneth.
In: Child and Youth Care Forum, Vol. 48, No. 5, 01.10.2019, p. 703-718.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Cross-National Examination of Work-Family in Parents of Children with Disabilities Using a Bioecological Model
AU - Brown, Theresa J.
AU - Sumner, Kenneth
PY - 2019/10/1
Y1 - 2019/10/1
N2 - Background: Although work-family balance (WFB) has received much attention from researchers, there are relatively few studies exploring WFB in parents of children with disabilities. Such research is necessary because caregiving demands are greater among these parents than those caring for typically developing children. Objective: The objective was to examine the impact of person and context elements of Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model (BM) on WFB among employed parents of children with disabilities. Hypotheses stated that personal resources, personal demands, and microsystem, exosystem, and macrosystem variables would impact work interference with family (WIF) and family interference with work (FIW). Method: Parents (N = 145) from several English-speaking countries responded to an internet survey. They were recruited through advocacy groups for children with disabilities. They were employed at least part-time with a child under 18 years of age and diagnosed with a disability living with them. Results: Regression analyses indicated that some personal resources (e.g. work-family enrichment) and some personal demands (e.g. rated severity of child disability) predicted both WIF and FIW in the expected direction. Microsystem (i.e. supervisory support) and exosystem (i.e. organizational culture) variables predicted lower levels of WIF and FIW. However, macrosystem variables (i.e. national family supportive policies) did not. Conclusions: The BM is useful for understanding WFB among employed parents of children with disabilities. Future research should include incorporating more aspects of the BM when exploring parents’ experiences. For example, examination of the chronosystem may be particularly important as the demands of parenting children with disabilities shift as children age.
AB - Background: Although work-family balance (WFB) has received much attention from researchers, there are relatively few studies exploring WFB in parents of children with disabilities. Such research is necessary because caregiving demands are greater among these parents than those caring for typically developing children. Objective: The objective was to examine the impact of person and context elements of Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model (BM) on WFB among employed parents of children with disabilities. Hypotheses stated that personal resources, personal demands, and microsystem, exosystem, and macrosystem variables would impact work interference with family (WIF) and family interference with work (FIW). Method: Parents (N = 145) from several English-speaking countries responded to an internet survey. They were recruited through advocacy groups for children with disabilities. They were employed at least part-time with a child under 18 years of age and diagnosed with a disability living with them. Results: Regression analyses indicated that some personal resources (e.g. work-family enrichment) and some personal demands (e.g. rated severity of child disability) predicted both WIF and FIW in the expected direction. Microsystem (i.e. supervisory support) and exosystem (i.e. organizational culture) variables predicted lower levels of WIF and FIW. However, macrosystem variables (i.e. national family supportive policies) did not. Conclusions: The BM is useful for understanding WFB among employed parents of children with disabilities. Future research should include incorporating more aspects of the BM when exploring parents’ experiences. For example, examination of the chronosystem may be particularly important as the demands of parenting children with disabilities shift as children age.
KW - Children
KW - Cross-national
KW - Disabilities
KW - Employed parents
KW - Work-family conflict
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85064338469&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10566-019-09501-z
DO - 10.1007/s10566-019-09501-z
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85064338469
VL - 48
SP - 703
EP - 718
JO - Child and Youth Care Forum
JF - Child and Youth Care Forum
SN - 1053-1890
IS - 5
ER -