The concise, bidirectional standard: five items for work-interfering-with-family and five for family-interfering-with-work.
HRMWork–Family & Job StressorsFree for researchalso known as: WFC/FWC scales
At a glance
Construct measured
Work–family and family–work conflict
Developed by
Netemeyer, Boles & McMurrian (1996)
Original publication
Netemeyer, R. G., Boles, J. S., & McMurrian, R. (1996). Development and validation of work–family conflict and family–work conflict scales. Journal of Applied Psychology, 81(4), 400–410. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.81.4.400
Work–family conflict (WFC, 5 items) — work demands interfering with family life
Family–work conflict (FWC, 5 items) — family demands interfering with work
Reliability (commonly reported)
Alphas are commonly reported around .82–.90 for each subscale.
Validity evidence
Developed through a rigorous multi-sample scale-development process; CFA supported the two-factor structure and discriminant validity between directions, with criterion links to burnout, satisfaction and turnover intention replicated in large meta-analyses.
Populations & contexts
Teachers, small-business owners and real-estate salespeople in the original samples; since used with working adults worldwide.
Origin, translations & adaptations
United States. Translated into many languages with published validations.
Licensing & permission
Free for academic research (cite the source) The items are printed in the published article and are routinely used in academic research with citation. Contact the authors/publisher for commercial use.
How to cite (APA 7)
Netemeyer, R. G., Boles, J. S., & McMurrian, R. (1996). Development and validation of work–family conflict and family–work conflict scales. Journal of Applied Psychology, 81(4), 400–410. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.81.4.400
Short versions & notable variants
Either direction is often administered alone (5 items) when only one direction is theorized