Predictors of Work-Family Role Conflict and Its Impact on Professional Women in Medicine, Engineering, and Information Technology in Nigeria

Asia Pac J Public Health. 2016 Oct;28(7):629-637. doi: 10.1177/1010539516667782. Epub 2016 Sep 24.

Abstract

This study examines work-family role conflict and the factors predicting it, with a sample of 173 professional women in engineering and information technology (IT) firms, including 2 hospitals-1 public and 1 private. Our findings show no significant difference in the level of work-family role conflict encountered by women across medicine, engineering, and IT, whereas hours of work, family responsibilities, job demand, and work role overload were significantly correlated with work-family role conflict. Multiple linear regression analysis indicates that only work role overload, family responsibilities, and hours of work significantly predicted 45.9% of work-family role conflict. This implies that working women are burdened by work demands, which invariably affects the work-family role conflict they experience and leads to deterioration of their occupational health. It is suggested that employers should create a flexible work schedule and establish family-friendly policies in the workplace to promote a healthy work-life balance for women in science careers.

Keywords: and information technology; career women; engineering; job demand; medicine; predictors; work hours; work stress; work-family role conflict.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Conflict, Psychological*
  • Engineering
  • Family / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Informatics
  • Nigeria
  • Physicians, Women / psychology
  • Physicians, Women / statistics & numerical data
  • Risk Factors
  • Role*
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Women, Working / psychology*
  • Women, Working / statistics & numerical data
  • Work / psychology*
  • Work-Life Balance
  • Workload / psychology