Instrumental Support Perceived by Working Parents in the Family and Work Contexts

Abstract

Instrumental support ¨tends to be a major predictor of health and well-being¨ (Hupcey, Ye, Xhang, & Zu, cited in Shakespeare-Finch, 2011, p.484), being related to employees’ strong performance, and well-being (Poortvliet, Marijn, 2015; Morelli, Lee, Arnn, Zaki, & Desteno, 2015). An interpretative, qualitative investigation was conducted through the techniques of Grounded Theory, with semi-structured interviews conducted with twenty-six full-time working parents. The results describe the kinds of instrumental support which parents perceive as most useful for resolving issues in the work and family contexts; instrumental support leveraged from the family for work, contributing information about the enrichment thereby offered, and the little support which is leveraged from work to the family.