Family cyberloafing and work-life balance: digital coping with work–family conflict across generations

Work-family conflict (WFC) often undermines employees’ well-being, yet the coping role of family-related cyberloafing (FCL) across generations remains unclear. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior, this study examines relationships among WFC, FCL, and work-life balance (WLB) and tests whether these links vary for Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. Survey data from 309 married Indonesian women were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling and multi‐group analysis. In the full sample, WFC reduced WLB, whereas FCL independently improved WLB. Multi-group analysis revealed that only the relationship between WFC and FCL differed by cohort, positive and significant for Generation X but non-significant for Millennials and Generation Z. At the same time, the influences of WFC and FCL on WLB were consistent. These findings confirm TPB-based mechanisms and highlight the need for generation-sensitive flexibility and technology policies to support work-life balance.