The spillover-crossover model

This chapter introduces a model that integrates two lines of research: the spill-over-crossover model (SCM). Spillover researchers have generally neglected the possibility to examine the impact of employees’ experiences at work on the well-being of the partner at home. Similarly, crossover researchers have generally ignored the work-related causes of the experiences that crossover from the employee to the partner at home. The SCM combines the spillover and crossover literatures, and proposes that work-related experiences first spillover to home domain, and then crossover to the partner through social interaction. The SCM suggests that impact on partner’s well-being occur either through direct crossover of negative and positive experiences or through indirect crossover. A series of studies has provided evidence for the SCM, although it should be noted that most studies focused exclusively on negative spillover and crossover. Although the focus in most work-family studies has primarily been on negative spillover, research has clearly indicated that positive spillover is also possible.