In studies of work-family conflict over the family life cycle, which group reported the highest conflicts?

• A. Preschool and school-age children
• B. Infants
• C. Teenagers
• D. No children

Answer: (A)

Work-family conflict shows up most strongly when caregiving demands collide with work commitments in a tightly scheduled phase of life. During preschool and early school years, families face a dense rhythm of time-bound tasks: getting kids ready in the morning, school drop-offs and pickups, after-school care, extracurricular activities, doctor visits, and helping with homework. All of these responsibilities must fit around typical work hours and deadlines, creating frequent clashes between what needs to be done at home and what work requires. That combination of many scheduled obligations and active parenting tasks tends to produce the highest perceived conflict. Infants demand constant caregiving, but the demands can be more flexible or shared through support networks, and teenagers often gain more independence, reducing daily coordination needs. Families with no children have fewer child-related time pressures, so their work-family conflict is usually lower. Hence, preschool and school-age children represent the peak period for conflict in this context.