The Origins of Emerging Adults’ Work–Family Balance Self-Efficacy: A Dyadic Study

Despite the well-known benefits of work–family balance self-efficacy (WFBSE), little is known about its predictors. This study addresses this gap by examining predictors of WFBSE (enacted and vicarious experiences in multiple role management), the relative strength of predictors, and a moderator (parent-child closeness) that facilitates vicarious learning. Dyadic survey data were collected in Singapore from 108 emerging adults ( M age = 21.8, SD age = 1.51 years) and their same-gender parents. Results from hierarchical regression analyses suggest that emerging adults’ work-school conflict (enacted failure) and parental work-to-family conflict (observed failure) were negatively associated with WFBSE. Dominance analysis supported the hypothesis that mastery experience is a stronger predictor of WFBSE than vicarious experience is. As expected, perceived parental work-to-family conflict had a stronger negative relationship with WFBSE among emerging adults who reported higher parent–child closeness. Implications for future research on emerging adults’ WFBSE and career development practice are discussed.