Work-Life Conflict, Burnout, and the Role of Social Support

Abstract

The present study examined the relationship between work-life conflict (WLC) and burnout, as well as how social support from both work and nonwork sources may impact that relationship. Participants (n=179) participated in a survey containing six questionnaires. The first two measured both directions of WLC: life interfering with work (LIW) and work interfering with life (WIL). The remaining questionnaires addressed social support from nonwork sources (friends, family, significant other), social support from work sources (supervisor and coworker) and the three dimensions of burnout (emotional exhaustion, cynicism, reduced personal accomplishment). Results showed that WIL and overall WLC were related to all three burnout dimensions while LIW was only related to reduced personal accomplishment. Additionally, each type of social support was significantly negatively related to each of the three burnout dimensions. We also found support for nonwork social support as a moderator between overall WLC and emotional exhaustion and cynicism, but not reduced personal accomplishment. Supervisor support and coworker support was supported as a moderator between overall WLC and all three burnout dimensions. When considering WIL rather than overall WLC, moderation analyses remained the same except for nonwork social support and cynicism, where nonwork social support did not moderate the relationship. These findings show the importance of social support in buffering the effects of strain to reduce symptoms of burnout. Understanding these dynamics can help organizations improve their employee’s well-being by developing strategies to improve upon the social support for employees.