Role Centrality and Shared Activities With Grandchildren: Effects on Grandparent Depression

Research shows that physical and mental health are closely linked (Ohrnberger, Fichera, & Sutton, 2017). Further, social role theory states that holding and enacting valued roles, such as grandparenting, can buffer the negative effects of health on depression (Reitzes & Mutran, 2004). Using data from 247 grandparents (Mean age = 66.5; range 42 to 90 years; 46.2% grandfathers), we examined the differences between 164 custodial and 83 traditional grandparents on whether grandparent role centrality and engagement with grandchildren altered the effects of physical health on depression. The multigroup moderated moderation model was significant (X2(DF=30, N = 247) = 1610.78, p < .001; R2 = .797). We examined whether the paths were moderated by custodial status. Among custodial grandparents, role centrality (β = -.482**) and shared activities (β = -.493***) were significant predictors of depressive symptomatology. Moreover, the interaction between physical health and activities (β = .488***) and between physical health and role centrality (β = .522**) also accounted for significant variance among custodial grandparents. Custodial grandparents in poorer health who valued the grandparent role and those in poorer health who engaged with their grandchildren experienced fewer depressive symptoms. No such patterns were observed for traditional grandparents. Although we had anticipated that the interaction between role centrality and engagement with grandchildren would predict depressive symptoms, the interaction did not reach significance. Results are discussed in terms of the need to examine the differences of family/social contexts in grandparent populations.

Toward contextual understanding: antecedents of work-family interface in India

PurposeThe current study examined cultural (diffuse orientation), organizational (organizational work-family climates) and individual (role centrality) antecedents of key work-family (WF) experiences (WF conflict, WF enrichment and WF boundary management) in India.Design/methodology/approachSurvey data were collected from 586 white-collar employees in India. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.FindingsAnalyses revealed interesting culture-specific insights into the WF dynamic. For example, less demarcation between WF boundaries (diffuse orientation) did not increase WF conflict, but significantly fostered WF enrichment, challenging the findings in the Western cultural contexts. A supportive organizational WF climate was found to be a crucial factor that alleviated WF conflict, whereas greater investment in work role led to greater WF enrichment.Research limitations/implicationsThis study addresses a dearth of research on antecedents of WF interface that simultaneously examines the positive and negative aspects of WF interface. It also advances the WF literature by generating empirical evidence related to the cultural dimension of diffuse orientation.Originality/valueThis study provides a holistic view of WF interface in the Indian context by incorporating various antecedents in one model.

Dissatisfied Creators: Generating Creative Ideas Amid Negative Emotion in Health Care

Improving performance often requires creative ideas in extreme work settings like health care. Frontline workers are promising sources of creative ideas. The authors assert that their job dissatisfaction is positively associated with creativity in health care settings because negative emotion spurs creativity when tied to engaging work and that characteristics such as shorter tenure, greater role centrality, and high boundary spanning can strengthen this relationship. The authors find supporting evidence in data on ideas generated over 18 months by health professionals in 12 clinics. Results suggest that health care organizations should not overlook dissatisfied workers as valuable sources of creative improvement ideas.