Always connected, not always balanced: the double-edged effects of after-hours work connectivity behavior on work-family conflict among civil servants.

INTRODUCTION

Drawing on the Work-Home Resources Model, this study examines the double-edged effects of work connectivity behavior after-hours (WCBA) on work-family conflict (WFC) among Chinese civil servants.

METHODS

We conducted a three-wave survey of 240 civil servants. The proposed parallel mediation and moderated mediation relationships were tested using regression-based analyses with bootstrapping.

RESULTS

WCBA indirectly reduced WFC by facilitating work goal progress, while simultaneously increasing WFC by heightening workplace anxiety. Public service motivation moderated both pathways. Higher public service motivation weakened the positive relationship between WCBA and work goal progress but strengthened the positive relationship between WCBA and workplace anxiety.

DISCUSSION: The findings reveal that WCBA can function as both a resource enabler and a stressor in public organizations. They extend the Work-Home Resources Model by identifying distinct resource-gain and resource-loss pathways and demonstrate that public service motivation may generate both beneficial and adverse consequences in an always-connected work environment.