Thematic content analysis of work–family interactions: Retired cosmonauts’ reflections

Anecdotal evidence and qualitative research attest to the importance of work–family interactions pre-, during and post-missions. This study uses thematic content analysis to quantify characteristics of work–family interactions and how these changed by stage of cosmonauts’ career, identifying the effect of space career variables (e.g., time in space and station) on such interactions during and post-career. Using a thematic scoring scheme developed for this study, we coded work–family interactions identified from interviews with 20 retired male cosmonauts. The majority of work–family interactions were ones in which work overlapped into family life and work hindered or interfered with the family situation. The most common resolution was that family adjusted to work, and the mood or tone about this outcome was almost equally divided among negative, positive and neutral. Changes in work–family interactions and their resolution over the cosmonaut’s life showed that the significant interactions were most evident during the cosmonaut career. Although the cosmonaut career has high work demands, it did adjust for family when the need arose. The Russian Space Agency (RKS) eased the impact of the periodic absences, especially through regular communication sessions. Positive work–family interactions, i.e., work or family helping the opposite role, were more likely for those who had been on ISS, not Mir, and for those whose last flight was after 2000. Our data reflect retired cosmonauts’ recollections of work–family interactions during their career. Examples of work overlapping into family life and work viewed as interfering with family life were possibly more salient or better remembered than work or family helping the other role.

► We coded work–family interactions from interviews with 20 retired male cosmonauts.
► Most of the work–family interactions involved work overlapping into family life.
► Work hindered or interfered with the family situation.
► The most common resolution of conflicts was family adjusted to work.
► Work adjusting for family was highest during the space career.