Blurred lines: the spillover and crossover effects of interpersonal experiences at work on family behaviors and well-being

Drawing on the spillover-crossover model, we examine both the enriching and conflicting effects of interpersonal experiences at work on the family domain using experience sampling methodology with 567 daily observations from 70 couples. As a positive spillover-crossover process, we find that employees' help provision at work indirectly and positively influences couples' relationship satisfaction, employees' life satisfaction, and spouses' life satisfaction via support provision to the spouse at home. As a negative spillover-crossover process, employees' experiences of interpersonal conflict at work indirectly and negatively influence couples' relationship satisfaction and employees' life satisfaction via undermining behaviors toward the spouse at home. We further theorize and find that the negative spillover-crossover process is less pronounced when spouses are more responsive to employees' disclosures of negative work experiences. Overall, this study provides new insights regarding behavioral pathways underlying interpersonal models of the work-family interface, with important practical implications for working couples and the organizations employing them.