Unmasking the Mystery of Sex and Gender between the Bidirectional Relationship of Work-Family Conflict and Job Satisfaction

Abstract

Sex has been the most commonly investigated variable in the extant work–family literature; however, findings have been inconsistent. This study focuses on comparing sex (male, female) and gender [expressivity (akin to femininity), instrumentality (akin to masculinity)], as moderators between the bidirectional relationship of work–family conflict (work-to-family conflict, family-to-work conflict) and job satisfaction. Utilizing a sample of matched pairs of 182 men and 182 women, the results of the moderated regression analysis revealed that only gender moderated the relationship between work– family conflict and job satisfaction for these full-time employees. We discuss suggestions for implications, limitations, and future research.