The Influential Factors Of Work-Family Conflict In Nurses

Objective:To analyse the present situation of work-family conflict in nurses, study the influential factors (including demographic characteristics, self-esteem, working characteristics, social support)of work-family conflict, and propose effective measures to improve the present situation. Nursing administrators may use the findings of this study as a guideline for taking effective measures to ease nurses' burnout, improve the quality of the nursing service and make the patients more satisfied with nursing service.Methods:294 subjects were obtained from three general hospitals in the city of jinan. Research instruments used in this study has six parts, including work-family conflict scale, the self-esteem scale, work stress source scale, Job control scale, Social support scale and demographic questionnaire. All the data were analyzed by SPSS version 11.5.Results:1. The scores of the two directions of work-family conflict: work interference with family was higher than family interference with work. In the direction of work interference with family: the strain-based conflict was worst, next was the time-based conflict.2. By diversity test, the findings were as below:in total work-family conflict, time-based WIF, and behavior-based WIF,the scores of nurses over 30 years old were higher than the nurses younger than 30 years old, P< 0.05; in time-based WIF, the scores of nurses with working time more than 11 years were higher than those with working time less than 10 years, P< 0.05; in total work-family conflict, time-based FIW, time-based WIF, and strain-based WIF, the scores of formal nurses were higher than contract nurses (P< 0.01, P< 0.01, P< 0.05, P< 0.05); in time-based WIF, the scores of supervisor nurses were higher than senior nurses; in strain-based WIF, the scores of nurses with bachelor degree were higher than nurses with college degree; in time-based WIF and behavior-based WIF, the scores of married nurses were higher than unmarried nurses; in total an all dimensions of work-family conflict, there were no significant difference among nurses in different departments and different positions (P< 0.05).3. The total self-esteem in nurses was higher than average theory level. By correlation analysis, we testified that self-esteem had negative relationship with total work-family conflict, strain-based FIW, behavior-based WIF and behavior-based FIW(r=-0.158,P <0.01;r=-0.230,P<0.01;r=-0.121,P<0.05;r=-0.207,P<0.01). Regression analysis indicated that self-esteem was important predictors for total work-family conflict, strain-based FIW, behavior-based WIF and behavior-based FIW(R2=0.025,R2 =0.053,R2=0.015,R2=0.043).4. The total working pressure in nurses was 77.66±13.31, scoring for moderate pressure. Total working pressure, pressure from management and human relations all had positive relationship with total work-family conflict and six dimensions of work-family conflict; pressure from nursing work and patients' care had positive relationship with all dimensions of work-family conflict except time-based FIW; pressure from workload and time distribution had positive relationship with all dimensions of work-family conflict except strain-based FIW; pressure from working environment and resource had positive relationship with all dimensions of work-family conflict except time-based FIW and strain-based FIW. Regression analysis indicated that the total working pressure was important predictors for total work-family conflict and six dimensions of work-family conflict.5. According to the average theory level, the score of job control in nurses was lower than the middle level. By correlation analysis, we testified that job control had negative relationship with total work-family conflict, time-based WIF and behavior-based WIF. Regression analysis indicated that job control was important negative predictors for total work-family conflict, time-based WIF and behavior-based WIF.6. The score of social support in nurses was 42.72±7.72. Among them, objective support was 10.37±3.54, subjective support was24.05±4.68, support utilization was 8.30±1.68. The total Social support had negative relationship with work-family conflict, behavior-based WIF and behavior-based FIW. Objective support had negative relationship with work-family conflict and behavior-based FIW. Subjective support had negative relationship with behavior-based FIW and behavior-based WIF. Support utilization had negative relationship with behavior-based WIF and behavior-based FIW. Regression analysis indicated that total social support was important negative predictors for work-family conflict, behavior-based WIF and behavior-based FIW.Conclusions:1. Nurses experienced more WIF and less FIW. The most serious form of work interference with family nurses suffered was strain-based conflict, then was time-based conflict, last was behavior-based conflict.2. The age, working time, labor properties, titles, education and marriage status could influence work-family conflict.3. Improving self-esteem could reduce the total work-family conflict, strain-based FIW, behavior-based FIW and behavior-based WIF.4. Working pressure can significantly influence total work-family conflict and six dimensions of work-family conflict.5. Improving job control could reduce the total work-family conflict, time-based WIF and behavior-based WIF.6. To enhance the social support could reduce the total work-family conflict, behavior-based WIF and behavior-based FIW.