Demographic Predictors of Work-Family Balance: A Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Perspective

In work-family balance research, demographic characteristics have traditionally been considered as moderators or cluster variables used to classify groups in data sets. Although previous studies refer to these characteristics as predictors, they have not been tested as such. This study treats demographic characteristics as configurational casual predictors using the emergent analytical method of fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to demonstrate how specific demographic characteristics lead to work-family balance. Drawing on configuration theory and asymmetric analysis, work-family balance was computed as a combination of high levels of family satisfaction and high levels of work satisfaction. The analysis revealed that female full-time employees who were young, married and lived with children reported higher levels of work-family balance.