The Work-Family Interface and Psychological Recovery from Work: A Meta-analysis on Two Intertwined Topics

The work-family interface and psychological recovery from work remained as two parallel topics for many years until scholars started to acknowledge that they are intertwined. In the present study, we advance knowledge on the field by carrying out the first meta-analysis on this topic. A total of 71 studies conducted across the globe were included. We explored whether all types of work-family interaction relate to recovery, and whether the strength of the relationships varies depending on type of recovery. Our findings show that three forms of work-family interaction are significantly related to recovery, namely work-family conflict (WFC), family-work conflict (FWC) and work-family facilitation (WFF). In the case of WFF, the strength of this relationship varies depending on how recovery is conceptualized. For instance, the association is particularly strong when recovery is defined in terms of perceived control over leisure time. From all types of work-family interaction, WFC is the most widely measured, whereas from all forms of recovery, psychological detachment from work seems the most popular. Although recovery has been considered a dynamic process, most of the identified studies are cross-sectional. Based on our results, we identify gaps and present a resource-based theoretical model to guide future research and practice.