Qualitative Research on Work–Family in the Management Field: A Review

Despite a proliferation of work–family literature over the past three decades, studies employing quantitative methodologies significantly outweigh those adopting qualitative approaches. In this paper, we intend to explore the state of qualitative work–family research in the management field and provide a comprehensive profile of the 152 studies included in this review. We synthesise the findings of qualitative work–family studies and provide six themes including parenthood, gender differences, cultural differences, family‐friendly policies and non‐traditional work arrangements, coping strategies, and under‐studied populations. We also describe how findings of qualitative work–family studies compare to those of quantitative studies. The review highlights seven conclusions in the current qualitative literature: a limited number of qualitative endeavours, findings worth further attention, convergent foci, the loose use of work–family terminology, the neglect of a variety of qualitative research approaches, quantitative attitudes towards qualitative research, and insufficient reporting of research methods. In addition, implications for future researchers are discussed.