Factors associated with work-family enrichment among working Israeli parents during COVID-19 lockdowns

Arch Environ Occup Health. 2023;78(2):61-70. doi: 10.1080/19338244.2022.2063242. Epub 2022 Apr 13.

Abstract

This study examined work-family enrichment, protective resources and psychological implications among working Israeli parents during COVID-19. In this cross-sectional study, 409 working parents were recruited during Israel's third lockdown. Levels of FWC/WFC and resilience were moderate, psychological distress and fear of COVID-19 were low, and perceived social support was high. All the study variables showed significant associations with each other. A multivariate regression analysis explained 30% of the WFC and FWC variance. We found differences in FWC/WFC based upon children's age but not on parents' gender. FWC/WFC mediated the effect of perceived social support and resilience on fear of COVID-19 and psychological distress. The findings explain the importance of personal resources during the pandemic in buffering the negative effects of parents' work- and family-related burdens and have important implications for helping families with young children cope during challenging times.

Keywords: COVID-19; family-work conflict; fear of COVID-19; perceived social support; psychological distress; resilience; work-family conflict.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Communicable Disease Control
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Israel / epidemiology
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology