Personality and inter-role conflict and enrichment: Investigating the mediating role of support

Although researchers have discussed the relationships between personality and inter-role conflict and enrichment, little research explores why these relationships exist. This study examines the role of perceptions of support as one such mechanism. We expect that individuals with more positive core self-evaluations will perceive greater levels of support, which will enable them to avoid inter-role conflict and take advantage of opportunities for inter-role enrichment. In the current study, the inter-role conflict and enrichment faced by student-parents managing the demands of school and their parenting responsibilities are examined. Student-parents with more positive core self-evaluations were found to perceive and seek out greater levels of support, which related to more effective management of multiple life roles. Based on our findings, we argue that future research should continue to investigate the mechanisms by which personality affects the management of multiple life roles. Suggestions as to how practitioners can utilize the findings from this study to help individuals more effectively manage the demands of multiple life roles are provided.