Abstract
Despite the rich literature on work-family concerns, few studies have addressed the indirect effects of perfectionism on work-family conflict through coping strategies and automatic thoughts, and there is scarce research on the topic in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between perfectionism and work-family conflict, and to explore potential mediation roles of coping strategies and positive automatic thoughts among Saudi employees. A sample of 1041 workers with families (44.4% females) were recruited and were administered the Work-Family Conflict Scale, the Situational Version of the Brief COPE questionnaire, the Short Form of the Revised Almost Perfect Scale, and the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire. A set of path analyses were performed using structural equation modelling. Standard and discrepancy perfectionism were positively associated with work to family conflict, but only discrepancy was associated with family to work conflict. Furthermore, active coping, seeking social support, evasive coping, and positive automatic thoughts acted as important paths through which these relationships operate. In conclusion, workplace and HR managers should plan programs and interventions to train employees regarding personality traits, effective coping, and positive thinking.