Mindfulness and Work-Family Enrichment

Abstract

Recent years have seen a drastic increase in so-called dual-career families, in which both partners pursue ambitious jobs and, at the same time, share childcare and household duties. Partners sometimes perceive conflict in whether to devote their time and energy to family or to work issues. On the other hand, it seems plausible that there are certain situations in which the mind can draw experiences (e.g. skills, positive emotions) and transfer them from the family context to work, and vice versa – a phenomenon known as work-family and family-work enrichment. However, only recently researchers have begun the systematic investigation of which personality traits or types of mindsets particularly favor work-family enrichment. In this study, we analyze the role of mindfulness on work-family enrichment: a combination of Eastern and especially non-meditation-based mindfulness as developed by Dr. Ellen Langer from Harvard University formed the basis to pose and test the following three hypotheses: (i) Langerian and Eastern mindfulness are positively related to both job- and life satisfaction, (ii) Langerian and Eastern mindfulness are positively associated with work- family and family-work enrichment, and (iii) there is a potential mediating effect between the variables (e.g. mindfulness strengthens the association between work-family enrichment and job- and life satisfaction). The empirical analysis was based on 91 participants filling out a questionnaire relating the two mindfulness scales – the Langer Mindfulness Scale (LMS14) and the Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS) – to work-family and family-work enrichment. The results confirmed especially Langerian mindfulness as a promising construct in work-family research: it was significantly related to both job- and life satisfaction, whereas against our predictions, no such relationship could be found for Eastern mindfulness. In addition, a significant positive association between Langerian mindfulness and work-family and family-work enrichment was confirmed, especially with family-work efficiency, work-family capital and family-work affect. The mediating analysis showed that work-family and family-work enrichment mediated the positive relationship between Langerian mindfulness and job- and life satisfaction. Practically, Langerian mindfulness may be an alternative and time-saving way to increase employees’ mindfulness levels and satisfaction with work and family.