A Meta-Analysis on Marital Status-Performance Relations: Like a Horse and Carriage?

Abstract

A meta-analysis was conducted to examine relations between marital status and three dimensions of job performance. Results indicated that marital status was weakly, positively related to in-role performance and counterproductive work behavior, yet unrelated to organizational citizenship behavior. After statistically controlling for age, parenthood, and perceived organizational support, marital status was positively related to all three performance dimensions. Mediation analyses revealed that family-to-work conflict partly explains the marital status-performance relations. Implications are drawn concerning personnel policies regarding married and unmarried employees.