Laur Lilleoja 

The present article analyses the influence of basic values on work, family and the perception of work-family conflict by ethnicity and gender. The data are derived from the 2004 and 2010 European Social Survey and the analysis covers only 25-55-year-old residents of Estonia. 

The results were overall in harmony with the results of previous studies. Orientation to work was influenced the most by the achievementand power value types, orientation to family by valuing benevolence. In ethnic comparison, minorities have perceived work-family conflict more frequently, Estonians family-work conflict. While among Estonians work-family conflict is experienced more frequently by men, among minorities it is more frequently experienced by women.

Thee role of basic values in the perception of work-family conflict depends on which sphere the individual prioritizes and the realization of the conflict depends on objective aspects. e value types that most directly influence the perception of work-family conflict are achievementand benevolence. The first increases the likelihood of the perception of conflict, the second reduces it. In the case of family-work conflict the impact of basic values did not prove to be statistically significant. While valuing caring for one’s family reduced the likelihood of perceiving conflict in the case of both men and women, the likelihood of perceiving conflict was increased by valuing wealthamong men and success among women. 

Basic values played a more important role in the perception of work-family conflict in the case of minorities than Estonians.