Excessive Mobile Use and Family-Work Conflict: A Resource Drain Theory Approach to Examine Their Effects on Productivity and Well-Being

While acknowledging the many benefits of anytime-anywhere connectivity, recent research has called for further investigation into the maladaptive side of mobile technology use in the work-family interface realm. We rely on resource drain theory to investigate how family-work conflict (FWC) is linked to excessive use of mobile devices for work purposes during nonwork hours, which, in turn, affects individual productivity and physiological, psychological, and relational well-being. Furthermore, we examine the role of competitive climate as a boundary condition. We conducted a field study across two measurement periods involving 324 individuals and their live-in partners. Our results suggest that FWC affects productivity and well-being through excessive mobile use and that competitive climate amplifies these effects. The study contributes to a better understanding of the excessive mobile use phenomenon focusing on its determinants and its consequences. We discuss the implications of our findings both for theory and practice, and we outline directions for future research.