Interference Between Work and Family:

This study examined differences by gender and job type in levels of role overload, interference from work to family, interference from family to work, and perceived stress for parents with pre-school children. The results indicate that mothers of pre-schoolers experience more problems balancing work and famiiy demands than fathers, regardless of whether they are in career or earner positions. The dual-career situation is less problematic than the dual-earner situation. Career parents appear to have more control over both work and family domains. Such an increase in control facilitates the ability to balance work and family. The results of this study suggest that employers who are interested in helping their employees balance work and family demands should investigate different mechanisms by which they can increase employees' control over the work and family interface. Interventions such as on-site day care, time management courses, flexible work arrangements, sick-child care, and parenting courses all offer promise in this regard.