The Relationship Between Work-Family Conflict Components and Psychological Distress in Female Nurses of Bushehr Province: A Path Analysis Study

Hakimeh  Vahedparast; Sedigheh  Peykar; Farahnaz  Kamali; Razieh  Bagherzadeh

doi:10.18502/jhsw.v15i3.21419

Hakimeh Vahedparast Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty of Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
Sedigheh Peykar Student Research Committee, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
Farahnaz Kamali Department of Midwifery, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty of Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
Razieh Bagherzadeh Department of Midwifery, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty of Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jhsw.v15i3.21419

Keywords: Female nurses, Hospital, Psychological distress, Work-family conflict

Abstract

Introduction: Work-family conflict can lead to negative outcomes such as psychological distress in allemployees, especially female nurses, as they face unique occupational challenges. However, the specificaspect of work-family conflict that contributes most significantly to psychological distress, as well asthe underlying mechanisms involved, has not been thoroughly examined. The present study aimed toinvestigate the relationship between work-family conflict dimensions and psychological distress.

Material and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2022 on 277 female nursesemployed at public hospitals in Bushehr Province. The data collection tool consisted of work–familyconflict and psychological distress questionnaires. The data were analyzed using SPSS v. 19 and PLS Graphv. 3, with path analysis.

Results: The direct effects of two dimensions of work-family conflict, namely “the interference of workwith personal and family life” and “the interference of family life with work,” on psychological distresswere found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). In addition, the mediating effect of the “workinterference with personal and family life” on the relationship between “insufficient facilities and support”and psychological distress was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the mediating effect of the“family dissatisfaction” in the relationship between “the interference of work with personal and familylife” and psychological distress was not statistically significant (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: The interference of work with personal and family life, and the interference of family lifewith work, were identified as significant factors that directly affect psychological distress. In addition,“insufficient support and facilities” can increase “the interference of work with personal and family life”,thereby leading to greater psychological distress among female nurses. Planning to enhance supportmeasures in both the workplace and personal life can help reduce the negative consequences of work-family conflict, such as psychological distress in female nurses