The effects of spouse perfectionism on employee work engagement: a moderated mediation model

Despite increasing interest in the effects of perfectionism in the workplace, there has been a lack of research on the cross-domain interpersonal influence of spouse perfectionism on employee work engagement. Drawing on crossover theory and conservation of resources theory, this study examines why and how spouse perfectionism can seep into the employee work domain. Specifically, this study explores whether spouse perfectionism correlates with employee work engagement via marital burnout and how this relationship is shaped by perceived boundary control. Through a three-wave questionnaire of 398 employees (study 1) and a matched questionnaire of 201 full-time couples (study 2), it was found that spouse positive perfectionism is positively associated with work engagement, while spouse negative perfectionism is negatively associated with work engagement. Moreover, marital burnout mediates the relationship between spouse perfectionism and employee work engagement, and employees’ perceived boundary control moderates the relationship between spouse perfectionism and employee work engagement. These findings shed light on the link between spouse personality and employee work outcomes and provide significant theoretical and managerial implications for improving employee work engagement.