Nonwork orientations relative to career: A multidimensional measure

• A multidimensional measure of nonwork orientations was tested with three different samples.
• Nonwork orientation scales had sound psychometric properties.
• Nonwork orientation scales were correlated with protean career scales and work–family satisfaction.
• This paper helps researchers and practitioners more fully understand the nonwork domain.

Although scholars typically assess an individual's nonwork role orientation relative to career as a unitary construct, we argue that a person's orientation toward nonwork roles is multi-dimensional. Drawing on a literature review demonstrating the need for improved constructs capturing changing relationships between career and multi-faceted nonwork orientations, and empirical data from three studies with samples at different career stages (early and mid-career), we use factor analysis and data from qualitative and longitudinal studies to develop three unique scales to assess a person's nonwork priorities relative to career orientations: family, personal life, and community service. There were generally positive relationships between the protean career scales and the new nonwork role orientation measures. Future research should move beyond a binary work–life or work–family models and include multi-dimensional measures of nonwork orientations relative to career.