Inter-domain role transitions and work-family life balance: The mediating effect of integration and segmentation preferences

Abstract

Despite growing research on boundary management through role transitions, there is still a lack of understanding of the strategies individuals use to achieve work-family life balance, and there is little research on the relationship between role transitions and work-family life balance. This article aims to determine the extent to which inter-domain role transitions affect work-family life balance using segmentation and integration preferences as mediating variables. To achieve this objective, we conducted an empirical study in which data were collected from a sample of 311 executives (directors) from Ecuadorian higher education institutions. Using structural equation modeling, the direction and strength of the proposed relationships were determined. Findings show that family domain integration preference and family domain segmentation preference mediate the relationship between family-to-work role transitions and work-family life balance. On the other hand, work domain segmentation preference and work domain integration preference were found to have no mediating effect between work-to-family role transitions and work-family life balance. The findings have practical implications for managing work and family life boundaries. This research contributes to a better understanding of the mediating effect played by segmentation and integration preferences between inter-domain role transitions and work-family life balance from an individual perspective.