Cross-boundary contact, work-family conflict, sleep problems, and alcohol consumption: Experiences of South African construction professionals

This study investigated the issue of work-family conflict experienced by South African construction professionals. A hypothesized model was proposed by considering the cross-boundary relationships between the work and family domains and the bi-directional nature of work-family conflict. Specifically, the model examined the relationships between work-related factors, family-related factors, cross-boundary contact, work-to-family conflict, family-to-work conflict, and the health and wellbeing-related consequences of sleep problems and alcohol use. Data were collected through an online survey administered to construction professionals registered with their respective statutory councils. A total of 695 valid responses were subject to data analysis using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The research results indicate that construction professionals’ experiences of work-to-family conflict are positively associated with work pressure, while negatively associated with job autonomy and schedule control. Work pressure can interfere with the family domain through the boundary-spanning activity of work contact, which then leads to work-to-family conflict. Construction professionals’ experiences of family-to-work conflict are predicted by household tasks and childcare demands. The family-domain resource of partner support is useful in alleviating family-to-work conflict. Childcare demands can interfere with the work domain through family contact, which then results in family-to-work conflict. Both work-to-family conflict and family-to-work conflict are positively associated with sleep problems, which in turn predicts alcohol use. This study highlights the important roles of an effective work design and useful boundary management tactics in protecting construction professionals from experiencing excessive work-family conflict.