Role Conflict, Role Overload, and Role Strain

Abstract Role conflict exists when two or more social roles overlap and are incompatible. Conflict occurs because the performance of one role interferes with the performance of another. Role conflict can be time‐based, strain‐based, or behavior‐based. Antecedents of work–family conflict can be within the same work or family domain or across domains. Role overload exists when an individual fulfills multiple roles simultaneously and lacks the resources to perform them. It can evolve from both excessive time demands and excessive psychological demands. Role strain is an outcome of role conflict and overload. Solutions to reducing the effects of role conflict, overload, and strain include reducing demands, increasing resources, or both. More specifically, role‐sequencing, role‐prioritizing, and role change, as well as increasing social resources and managing boundaries between work and family responsibilities, are options for reducing role conflict, overload, and strain.