Work–family conflict of sports coaches: A conservation of resources perspective

Objective: This study examined the mediating role of work–family conflicts between the relationship of psychological capital and well-being, and the moderating role of political skills on the relationship of work–family conflicts and well-being. Background: Research indicates that personal resources, such as psychological capital, may help working adults mitigate resource depletion caused by work–family conflicts. The conservation of resources theory states that individuals tend to acquire and protect resources to reduce stress and enhance well-being. Consequently, this study examined political skills in buffering the negative effects of work–family conflicts, suggesting that these skills improve individuals' ability to navigate and resolve resource-draining conflicts, thereby enhancing family satisfaction. Method: A total of 270 full-time sports coaches in public schools in Taiwan participated in this study. Data were collected with questionnaires and analyzed by the SPSS software. Results: Work–family conflicts mediated the positive relationship between psychological capital and family satisfaction. Political skill weakened the negative relationships between work–family conflicts and family satisfaction. Conclusion: The mediating effect of psychological capital on family satisfaction through work–family conflict is weaker when political skill is high rather than low. Implications: Psychological capital and political skills may function as personal resources that reduce the damage of work–family conflict to well-being.