Self-employment, once seen as enhancing work-life balance, is now associated with a negative impact on work-family conflict when children are involved. Recent studies reveal a correlation between self-employment and increased work-to-family conflict. This review aims to examine the work-family conflict factors influencing changes in self-employment status through a systematic analysis of literature from 2015-2023. The results indicate a lack of consensus regarding how self-employment affects work-family conflict due to occupational status and gender. Some argue that self-employment reduces conflict, while others claim it amplifies it, often contingent on the country’s support systems for childcare and parental leave. This study contributes to the ongoing debate on self-employment’s role in assisting parents, especially women, in achieving better work-family balance.