ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to present the results of a cross-cultural study
examining various resources that help individuals cope with competing
demands from the work and family domains. To enhance our understanding of
work-family conflict in different countries, we conducted focus groups in
China, Hong Kong, Mexico, Singapore, and the United States. Integrating
findings from the focus groups with those from the literature, we developed a
classification system for organizing support resources. Domain-specific support
resources include social and instrumental forms of support within the family
and work/organizational domains. Domain-spanning resources include personal
resources such as individual values and differences (i.e., self-reliance) and
national resources such as laws that affect work and family systems. Cross-
cultural comparisons are made and implications for researchers and
organizations are discussed.
