Exploring the mechanism of work-family conflict on obesity-related eating behavior among employees: a large-scale cross-sectional study in China

Previous research has demonstrated associations between work-family conflict (WFC) and obesity-related eating behaviors (OEB). However, the mechanism underlying this relationship remain unclear, especially regarding the differential impacts of work-to-family conflict (WtFC) and family-to-work conflict (FtWC). Based on conservation of resources theory, this study investigated how WtFC and FtWC influences OEB through self-efficacy and anxiety, and whether intention to have the first-child (IC1) and second-child (IC2) moderates these relationships. Data were collected from 1,708 Chinese employees aged 19-35 using a cross-sectional survey. Results showed that both WtFC and FtWC positively predicted OEB (<i>β</i> = 0.141, <i>p</i> = 0.001; <i>β</i> = 0.223, <i>p</i> < 0.001). FtWC predicted OEB through two pathways: directly through anxiety (<i>β</i> = 0.066, 95% CI: 0.045 to 0.089) and sequentially through self-efficacy and anxiety (<i>β</i> = 0.003, 95% CI: 0.001 to 0.006). WtFC showed no significant indirect effects through these pathways. IC2 strengthened the mediating effect of anxiety in the FtWC-OEB relationship (Index = 0.011, 95% CI: 0.003 to 0.019), while no significant moderating effect was found for IC1. These findings reveal distinct mechanisms through which WtFC and FtWC influence eating behaviors among Chinese employees, highlighting the complex interplay between work-family dynamics, psychological resources, emotions, and health behaviors. The results provide insights for developing targeted interventions to address OEB in workplace settings.