At a time when some combination of work and family is the lifestyle preference of most Americans, but the two domains remain largely de­ scribed as espousing conflicting values, it is important that the issues af­ fecting any interface be explored for possible directions for future research and practice. This paper begins with a review of the problems and benefits associated with combining work and family, then proceeds to urge that thinking in this area move beyond simplistic linear models to a full appre­ ciation of the many variables which influence an individual’s short-term reactions and resulting long-term consequences when balancing multiple roles. At the end, some suggestions are made for easing tensions between work and family based on the current state of knowledge.