(PS6-88) Investigating the Moderating Role of Coping Between Work-Family Spillover Stress and Anxiety, Depression, and Life Satisfaction

Purpose:

Negative work-to-family spillover (NWFS) stress is associated with negative mental health outcomes, such as increased depression and anxiety and diminished life satisfaction. Different forms of coping–problem-focused coping (PC) (e.g., planning) and emotion-focused coping (EC) (e.g., behavioral disengagement)–may potentially inform and moderate the mental health burden of NWFS. The current investigation aims to examine the moderating role of PC and EC on the association between NWFS and depression, anxiety, and life satisfaction. 

Methods:

The study references the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) project, specifically the MIDUS II (T0: 2004–2006) and MIDUS III (T1: 2013–2014) datasets (N = 1214), to investigate this moderating interaction cross-sectionally and longitudinally. It relies on multiple regression and simple slope analysis as statistical techniques to estimate this moderation. 

Results:

Cross-sectional findings suggest that higher reliance on EC at T0 exacerbates the relationship between NWFS and depression, and higher reliance on PC at T1 attenuates the negative impact of NWFS on life satisfaction. Conversely, the study finds no significant cross-sectional interaction of PC or EC on the relationship between NWFS and anxiety at T0 or T1. Longitudinal findings show a significant interaction between NWFS and PC at T0 when observing depressive symptoms at T1; higher levels of PC at T0 are related to lower depressive symptoms at T1. However, this association is only valid for individuals already experiencing elevated levels of NWFS at T0. 

Conclusion

Though cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between NWFS and depression, anxiety, and life satisfaction, accounting for different levels of PC and EC, are mixed, higher reliance on PC or EC suggests lessened or intensified connections between NWFS and mental health. Understanding the dynamics between NWFS, coping, and mental health may inform interventions or organizational frameworks that promote resilience and adaptive responses among individuals facing work-family stress.