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Asymmetric Differences in Work–Family Spillover in North America and China: Results from Two Heterogeneous Samples

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Abstract

Models of the work-to-family and family-to-work interface were tested in two heterogeneous samples of workers, one from North America (N = 408) and one from China (N = 442), using the same measures translated from English to Chinese using back translation. Consistent with proposed differences in the centrality of work and family, tolerance of work demands, and the availability of family support, work-to-family spillover effects tended to be stronger in the North American sample, whereas family-to-work spillover effects tended to be stronger in the Chinese sample. However, some inconsistencies across cultures did not conform to this generalization. Results point to asymmetric differences between North America and China in the work–family interface. Theoretical implications for resource scarcity and expansionist perspectives are discussed, as well as those for the applicability of work–family interventions across North America and China.

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Acknowledgments

The research was supported by the grants from Project 211 (Phase III), School of Business Administration, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics; Social Science Research Grant SC10B022, Sichuan Province, China; Humanity and Social Science Research Grant 10YJC630102, Ministry of Education, China.

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  1. School of Business Administration, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, No. 555, Liutai Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, People’s Republic of China

    Jia Fei Jin & Chih Chieh Chen

  2. Industrial-Organizational Psychology, University at Albany, SUNY, Social Sciences 369, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA

    Michael T. Ford

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  1. Jia Fei Jin
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Correspondence to Chih Chieh Chen.

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Jin, J.F., Ford, M.T. & Chen, C.C. Asymmetric Differences in Work–Family Spillover in North America and China: Results from Two Heterogeneous Samples. J Bus Ethics 113, 1–14 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-012-1289-3

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