Sources of work-family conflict: a study of Malay women entrepreneurs in Kedah, Malaysia/ Fais Ahmad

The present study examines the relationships between excessive hours worked (time constraint) and physical and psychological pressures (strains) originated from home and work domains (as independent variables), and work-family conflict (as dependent variable). The study also explores whether the family social supports would moderate the relationships between these variables. The focus of the study is on Malay women entrepreneurs since less attention have been given by past researchers to investigate the phenomenon of WFC among these working women. As predicted, the findings indicated that the excessive hours, which Malay women entrepreneurs have to utilize in performing their household responsibilities and in operating their daily businesses are positively associated with work-family conflict. Similar relationship occurs between the physical and psychological pressures that the women face at home and workplace domains, and work-family conflict. Besides that, the findings also provide evidence that family social supports have moderating effects on these relationships (except for the relationship between physical and psychological pressures at home, with work family conflict). This evidence was strengthened by further findings, which indicate that there are differences in terms of experiencing work-family conflict between women who obtain support from family members (in performing their business and household tasks), and those who do not gain these advantages. The implications of these findings for practice are discussed in which emphasis is given on the strategies to resolve this psychological phenomenon that exists among Malay women entrepreneurs. The directions for future research are also presented.