The double-edged sword of acculturation: Navigating work-family conflict among immigrants

Abstract

Work–family conflict (WFC) research has largely overlooked the unique experiences of ethnic minorities, particularly immigrant employees navigating dual cultural contexts. Addressing this limitation, our study investigates how acculturation influences WFC among Chinese immigrants in New Zealand. Using interviews with 29 participants, we found that Chinese immigrants employ a domain-specific acculturation strategy: adopting a separation approach in the family domain to preserve their native culture while pursuing an integration approach in the work domain by blending home and host cultures. This dual strategy has contrasting effects on WFC—mitigating it through enhanced social support at work, while simultaneously exacerbating it through increased role demands. Our findings extend theoretical frameworks in WFC and acculturation, offering nuanced insights for scholars and practitioners into managing migrant workers’ WFC.