Meta-analysis of work–family conflict mean differences: Does national context matter?

• We meta-analytically examine cross-national work–family conflict mean differences.
• We examine cultural, institutional, and economic aspects of context.
• No significant differences in work-to-family conflict were detected.
• Significant differences in family-to-work conflict were found.

Work–family conflict continues to be a topic of considerable interest to researchers and practitioners across the globe. In the current study, meta-analysis is used to compare cross-national mean differences in work-to-family conflict and family-to-work conflict across cultural, institutional, and economic aspects of context. No significant differences in work-to-family conflict were detected. Reports of family-to-work conflict were higher in more collectivistic versus more individualistic cultures, in countries with a higher versus a lower economic gender gap, and in countries other than the U.S. versus the U.S.