The Impact of Work–Family Conflict on Job and Life Satisfaction Among Construction Workers: The Mediating Role of Self-Control Ability

Characterized by excessively long working hours, high personnel turnover, and frequent off-site work, the construction industry renders construction workers highly vulnerable to Work–Family Conflict (WFC). This conflict not only exacerbates role tension but also depletes their self-control resources. However, existing studies focusing on WFC among construction workers remain scarce, with insufficient exploration into the underlying psychological mechanisms governing this phenomenon. Grounded in the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, this study develops a theoretical model that identifies Self-Control Ability (SC) as the core mediator in the relationships between WFC and construction workers’ Job Satisfaction (JS) as well as Life Satisfaction (LS). By establishing a Structural Equation Model (SEM), we analyzed questionnaire data from 407 construction workers in Hunan Province, China. The results demonstrate that WFC exerts a direct negative effect on both JS and LS, while self-control ability plays a partial mediating role in these associations. These findings extend the application of Boundary Theory and Self-Control Theory to the context of specialized labor. Practically, they offer evidence-based insights for organizations to enhance worker well-being, including the design of psychological resource replenishment programs and the optimization of shift schedules, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of the construction industry.