A Demands and Resources Approach to Understanding Faculty Turnover Intentions Due to Work-Family Balance

Using data collected on tenure-line faculty at a research-intensive Midwestern university, this study explored predictors of faculty job turnover intentions due to a desire for a better work-family balance. We adopted Voydanoff's theoretical framework and included demands and resources both within and spanning across the work and family domains. Results showed that work-related demands and resources were much stronger predictors of work-family turnover intentions than family-related demands or resources. Specifically, work-to-family negative spillover was positively associated with work-family turnover intentions, and two work-related resources (job satisfaction and supportive work-family culture) were negatively associated with work-family turnover intentions. On the other hand, family-related demands and resources (within the family domain or boundary-spanning from family to work) did not significantly predict work-family turnover intentions.