Understanding Work-to-Family Conflict among Self-employed Workers: Utilising a Cognitive Appraisal Framework

Acknowledging that there is diversity in the nature of work arrangements among the ranks of the self-employed, the authors sought to achieve a better understanding of work–family conflict among self-employed workers by using cognitive appraisal theory as a framework (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) to consider the roles that both situation (work arrangement and number of hours worked) and person (preferred number of hours worked) factors play in predicting work-to-family conflict. Empirical data drawn from the 1997 and 2002 versions of the National Study of the Changing Workforce was used to test hypotheses. Results from both datasets indicated that small business owners (SBOs) were found to work significantly more hours than self-employed independents (SEIs) and that increased work hours were related to an increase in reported work-to-family conflict. In addition, preferred number of hours worked moderated the negative affect that number of work hours had on work-to-family conflict, although the form of the moderation differed between datasets. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed in light of the clear differences that were found amongst members of the self-employed workforce.