Exploring the Relationship Between Work–Family Conflict, Family–Work Conflict and Job Embeddedness: Examining the Mediating Role of Emotional Exhaustion

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between family–work conflicts, work–family conflicts, emotional exhaustion, and job embeddedness. Emotional exhaustion was hypothesized to mediate relations between family–work conflicts, work–family conflicts and job embeddedness. METHODS: An online questionnaire was distributed to collect the data. The sample consisted of 264 women aged 18 years and older who work in private sector in Saudi Arabia. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), common method bias (CMB), and structural equation modeling (SEM) were conducted using AMOS (Version 28). RESULTS: The results show that emotional exhaustion functions as a full meditator of the relationship between work–family conflicts, family–work conflicts and job embeddedness. Specifically, women who experience work and family conflicts are unable to balance heavy workloads are emotionally exhausted which in turn affects their job embeddedness. CONCLUSION: The study emphasizes the negative effects of both work-to-family and family-to-work-life spillover that result in unfavorable psychological states for female employees. Therefore, it is essential for organizations to have interventions that support balancing the demands of family and work. Organizations need to consider how much control an employee has over the time and location of their job. Organizations must also provide clear procedures for handling flexible work schedules and part-time employment.