The importance of construct breadth when examining interrole conflict

Research examining the influence of nonwork issues on work-related outcomes has flourished. Often, however, the breadth of the interrole conflict construct varies widely between studies. To determine if the breadth of the interrole conflict measure makes a difference, the current study compares the criterion-related validity of scores yielded by a work-nonwork conflict scale and those yielded by a work-family conflict scale using active-duty U.S. Army soldiers stationed in Germany and Italy with spouses and/or children and without spouses or children. Results demonstrated that the two constructs are related but distinct. In addition, work-family conflict had a stronger relationship with job satisfaction and turnover intentions for employees with a spouse and/or children than for single, childless employees, whereas work-nonwork conflict had a stronger relationship with these outcomes for single, childless employees than for employees with a spouse and/or children.