Abstract:
Based on transformational leadership and social support
theories, we examined the direct effects of transformational
and transactional leadership on work interference with
family (WIF) conflict and family supportive supervisor
behaviour (FSSB) as mediator. Using organisational support
theory, we examined perceived organisational support
(POS) as a moderator. Survey data were collected from 368
managers in Sri Lanka. The results show that transactional
and transformational leadership positively relate to FSSB and
transformational leadership negatively relates to WIF conflict.
In addition, transformational leadership augments the effect
of transactional leadership on FSSB. While FSSB mediates
the effect of transactional leadership on WIF conflict, it only
partially mediates the effect of transformational leadership
on WIF conflict. However, the negative relationship reported
between transformational leadership and WIF conflict changes
into a positive relationship when FSSB is introduced as a
mediator. This suggests that transformational leadership has a
positive and negative impact on WIF conflict simultaneously.
Finally, contrary to expectations, POS does not moderate the
effect of FSSB on WIF conflict.
