Seeking the perfect balance: Perfectionism and work-family conflict

This study considers the relationship between perfectionism and perceptions of work family conflict. A situational component to perfectionism was found, with higher standards and a higher perceived discrepancy between standards and performance at home versus at work. Findings suggest perfectionism predicts work-family conflict, beyond the effects of the Big Five, trait affectivity and achievement. Further, findings indicate those with adaptive perfectionism (AP; work and home) tend to have lower strain and time-based family interfering with work and lower behaviour-based work interfering with family, compared with maladaptive perfectionists (home) and non-perfectionists (work and home). Gender differences were found and considered in a more exploratory manner.