Heterogeneous impacts of work-family conflict on workforce mental health: evidence from the differential effects of work-to-family and family-to-work conflict.

Purpose: Despite extensive discussions on the negative consequences of work-family conflict, the heterogeneous impacts of WFC and FWC on perceived depression have not been systematically examined. This study aims to systematically examine the relationship between work-family conflict and perceived depression from the novel heterogeneous perspectives of work-to-family conflict (WFC) and family-to-work conflict (FWC). Materials and methods: Empirical analysis is conducted based on data from the Chinese General Social Survey. Results: WFC and FWC significantly increase depression levels, with FWC exerting a more pronounced impact. These conflicts reduce life happiness and work satisfaction, thereby increasing depression. The effect of WFC is more significant among men, individuals under 40, those with lower education level, married ones, those having children, and people with poorer economic status. Moreover, its effects are also more pronounced for those in managerial positions, with low job autonomy, performing non-cognitive work, working outside the primary labor market, without social security, and in areas with a higher competitive labor market. In contrast, FWC affects higher educated and unmarried individuals more, showing no notable differences in terms of gender, age, or managerial roles. In other aspects, the heterogeneity of FWC's impact generally aligns with that of WFC. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of reducing work-family conflicts to address depressive emotions and the necessity of implementing targeted measures to mitigate WFC and FWC across different populations.