Work and personal life boundary management: boundary strength, work/personal life balance, and the segmentation-integration continuum.

Full Abstract

While researchers are increasingly interested in understanding the boundaries surrounding the work and personal life domains, few have tested the propositions set forth by theory. Boundary theory proposes that individuals manage the boundaries between work and personal life through processes of segmenting and/or integrating the domains. The authors investigated boundary management profiles of 332 workers in an investigation of the segmentation-integration continuum. Cluster analysis indicated consistent clusters of boundary management practices related to varying segmentation and integration of the work and personal life domains. But, the authors suggest that the segmentation-integration continuum may be more complicated. Results also indicated relationships between boundary management practices and work-personal life interference and work-personal life enhancement. Less flexible and more permeable boundaries were related to more interference, while more flexible and more permeable boundaries were related to more enhancement.

Author information

Author/s: Bulger, Carrie A (CA); Matthews, Russell A (RA); Hoffman, Mark E (ME);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT 06518, USA. carrie.bulger(-atsign-)quinnipiac.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of occupational health psychology (J Occup Health Psychol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Oct; vol 12 (issue 4) : pp 365-75

Dates: Created 2007/10/23; Completed 2008/02/12;

PMID: 17953495, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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