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Clarifying the effect of work hours on health through work–life conflict
Author(s) -
Fein Erich C,
Skinner Natalie
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
asia pacific journal of human resources
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.825
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1744-7941
pISSN - 1038-4111
DOI - 10.1111/1744-7941.12065
Subject(s) - work (physics) , psychological intervention , psychology , sample (material) , human resources , human resource management , gerontology , medicine , management , economics , mechanical engineering , chemistry , chromatography , engineering , psychiatry
Previous research on the relationship between work hours and health has produced inconclusive findings, which may be related to the use of predominantly male samples. This paper examines the relationship between work hours and health in a national A ustralian sample ( A ustralian Work + Life Index) of men and women. We examine total work hours across major occupational groups and find differences in health outcomes related to gender. In addition, our findings provide important insights into the pathway through which work hours impact health. Specifically, we offer compelling evidence that work–life conflict functions as a pathway through which total work hours impact health outcomes. The results of this study suggest that human resource management practitioners pay further attention to interventions that enable workers to more successfully manage the energy exchange between work and non‐work domains. We also review several related pathways by which human resource managers may reduce employee work–life conflict.