Thesis
Work-family conflict among low-wage and African American workers: a quantitative study with theoretical application in sociology
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2011
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/103042
Abstract
Drawing upon Weberian points of resources and power, status characteristics theory, the literature on racism/discrimination, and past research on work-family conflict, I examine three dimensions of work-family conflict (having little time left for household matters, high emotional strain at home, and the inability to focus on household matters) among low-wage and non-lowwage workers and white and African American workers. I examine these three dimensions of work-family conflict using the data from the 2002 National Study of the Changing Workforce (2002 NSCW) and the 2006 Midlife in the United States (2006 MIDUS). I found the following three results. First, regarding the dimension of having little time left for household matters, I found that in some models, there is no significant difference in reports of having little time left for household matters between a low-wage worker and a non-low-wage worker after controlling for time variables. Second, regarding the dimension of high emotional strain at home, a low-wage worker reports higher levels of poor mood at home than a non-lowwage worker, while a low-wage worker does not report different levels of energy left for household matters, irritability at home, or emotional strain at home, compared to a non-low-wage worker. An African American reports much lower levels of high emotional strain at home due to their job than a white worker. Third, regarding the dimension of the inability to focus on household matters, a low-wage worker does not report different levels of poor performance at home, the inability to concentrate at home or poor effort at home, compared to a non-low-wage worker. On the other hand, a low-wage worker reports lower levels of distraction at home, compared to a non-low-wage worker. Relative to a white worker, an African American worker reports much lower levels of the inability to focus on household matters. My findings demonstrate that work-family conflict is multi-dimensional. I conclude this manuscript with discussions of my findings, including how family-oriented culture among lowwage and African American workers and social support other than the interface of work may help explain my findings, and of points that future researchers need to take on.
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Details
- Title
- Work-family conflict among low-wage and African American workers
- Creators
- Yusuke Makino
- Contributors
- Julie A. Kmec (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Sociology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; Pullman, Wash. :
- Identifiers
- 99900525034901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis