This paper aims to analyse negative work–family interaction, burnout and absenteeism intention in Mexican workers, identifying heterogeneity in these dynamics using the Pathmox method.
A quantitative, explanatory and cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample of 625 Mexican workers. The Pathmox method was used within a partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) model to detect and segment the entire sample according to categorical variables, such as age and schooling. To validate the robustness and added value of Pathmox, results were compared with conventional moderation approaches including multigroup analysis (MGA) and product-indicator interaction models.
Negative work–family interaction was identified as a significant predictor of burnout, mainly in emotional exhaustion (ß = 0.878) and cynicism (ß = 0.738). Unexpectedly, emotional exhaustion and cynicism were not significant as predictors of absenteeism intention. However, professional effectiveness has a significant impact on absenteeism intention (ß = −0.445). Pathmox analysis indicated that age and schooling moderate the relationship between negative work–family interaction and professional effectiveness. Robustness analyses comparing Pathmox with conventional moderation techniques (MGA and product-indicator models) confirmed the consistency and reliability of the segmentation results, while demonstrating Pathmox’s superior ability to automatically identify optimal cut-off points and reveal non-linear moderation patterns.
The cross-sectional data limits the possibility of causal inferences and convenience sample hinders the findings’ generalisability.
Improving employee self-efficacy is especially important to the older workforce and to lower educated employees to reduce negative impacts from work–family conflict and absenteeism intention.
The findings of this study show useful contributions to worker’s well-being and mental health by identifying vulnerable groups and pushing for differentiated support strategies to improve their quality of life and work commitment.
This study is original in that it addresses a gap in the work–family conflict, burnout and absenteeism heterogeneity research. Also, it uses a new method, Pathmox, to describe segments using measures of observable groups of sociodemographic background characteristics.
