Relationship between work family conflict and marital satisfaction among married individuals: Marital power as mediator.

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Work family conflict (WFC), which is defined as a specific kind of tension that stems from contradictory demands of work and family roles, is one of the important factors associated with marital satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between work family conflict and marital satisfaction via the mediating role of marital power on this relationship. With this purpose, data was collected from 289 individuals who were in dual-earning marriages. A survey package including a demographic information form, Work Family Conflict Scale, Personal Sense of Power Scale, and Marital Life Scale, were administered to participants. Both types of work-family conflict were negatively correlated with marital power and with marital satisfaction. Series of ANOVAs yielded significant gender differences on both forms of work-family conflict. More specifically, women experienced both forms of work-family conflict more. On the other hand, no significant gender difference was found on marital power and marital satisfaction. Results of regression analysis via Process Macro indicated that only F-to-WC significantly and negatively predicted marital satisfaction via marital power. That is, family to work conflict tended to decrease marital power; decreased marital power in turn tended to decrease marital satisfaction. These results indicate that marital power has an important role on the relation between family to work conflict and marital satisfaction. Additionally, the results indicated the criticality of F-to-WC over W-to FC in examining the relations among marriage related variable. That is, as family to work conflict increases marital power decreases; as marital power decreases marital satisfaction also decreases. These results indicate that marital power has an important role on the relation between family to work conflict and marital satisfaction. Additionally, the results indicated that family-to-work conflict is more important than work-to-family conflict in examining the relations among marriage related variables. Family related problems seem to be more important than work related problems in determining marital satisfaction.