Family bonds at risk: The spillover effects of workplace ostracism in the parent-child relationship

ObjectiveThis study aimed to bridge the gap between occupational psychology and family psychology by exploring whether and how social connections in the workplace can lead to changes in family relations.BackgroundAmid intensified competition, workplace ostracism has become prevalent. However, its negative impacts on children, a vulnerable group within the family, have been largely neglected.MethodA cross-sectional survey was conducted on a sample of 673 working parents from multiple companies, along with their children. This enabled us to examine the impacts of workplace ostracism on the parent-child relationship based on both parents' and children's data, with a specific focus on the mediating role of emotional exhaustion.ResultsThe consistent findings obtained from parents' and children's relationship ratings revealed that parents' reported workplace ostracism predicted parent-child conflict positively and parent-child closeness negatively. Parents' emotional exhaustion only partially mediated the relationship between workplace ostracism and parent-child conflict, whereas its mediation effect between workplace ostracism and parent-child closeness was found to be insignificant.ConclusionThe spillover effect of workplace ostracism can exacerbate conflicts and reduce closeness between parents and their children. Emotional exhaustion acts as the underlying mechanism linking workplace ostracism to conflict but not to closeness.ImplicationsPrograms designed to foster better intraorganizational relationships and promote individual emotion regulation skills may ultimately benefit family harmony.