The spillover and crossover of resources among partners: the role of work-self and family-self facilitation

Abstract

This study tested the positive spillover-crossover model among dual-earner couples. Job resources of 1 partner were predicted to spill over to his/her individual energy, that is, reduced fatigue and increased motivation. Consequently, individual energy was predicted to influence one's partner's family resources, which were hypothesized to influence the partner's level of individual energy. Work-self facilitation and family-self facilitation were hypothesized to mediate the favorable effects of job and home resources, respectively, on individual energy. A sample of 131 couples participated in the study. Structural equation modeling analyses showed that job resources influence one's own individual energy through work-self facilitation. Consequently, the levels of individual energy positively influence one's partner's perception of home resources, which eventually spill over to the partner's individual energy through experienced family-self facilitation. Work-self and family-self facilitation are useful in explaining why job and family resources may enhance the levels of energy that individuals invest in different life domains.