Life Aspirations: Their Impact on Family and Work Conflict and Life Satisfaction in Hong Kong and Taiwan
Journal
Asian Social Work and Policy Review
Journal Volume
9
Journal Issue
3
Pages
307-325
Date Issued
2015
Author(s)
Chan R.K.H., Wang L.-R.
Abstract
Family and work conflict (F/WC) has gained prominence in developed economies in Asia as individuals are faced with the increased demands from work and families that are still considered very important. Hong Kong and Taiwan best illustrate the changing social and economic conditions that have given rise to this conflict. In these two societies, people have demonstrated a strong emphasis on work, even when it entails the sacrifice of family tasks and duties. An array of informal and formal services have been mobilized to allow people to fulfill their duties to work and family. Based on surveys conducted in Hong Kong and Taiwan in late 2009, this paper investigated F/WC and life satisfaction. Specifically, it examined changing life aspirations, both material and non-material, as predictors of F/WC and life satisfaction. The surveys found that respondents had high aspirations for both their family and their work, and for both material and non-material assets, and that they experienced high-level F/WC. Based on the statistical analysis, we argue that minimizing the interference of family life on work and emphasizing non-material life aspirations could promote better life satisfaction.
Subjects
Family and work conflict; Hong Kong; Life aspiration; Life satisfaction; Taiwan
Publisher
Blackwell Publishing
Type
journal article