Comparison of Work-Family Conflict from the Perspective of Working Women and Their Husbands

Reihaneh Rajati; Talat Khadivzadeh; Habibollah Esmaeili; Fereshteh Danesh

doi:10.18502/jzms.v5i1.10319

Reihaneh Rajati MSc Student of Counseling in Midwifery, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Talat Khadivzadeh Associate Professor, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, AND Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University Medical of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Habibollah Esmaeili Professor, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Fereshteh Danesh MSc in Clinical Psychology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jzms.v5i1.10319

Keywords: Work-family conflict, Women's employed, Time conflict, Stress conflict, Behavioral conflict

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate and compare family-work conflict from the perspective of working women and their husbands.

Methods: This descriptive correlational study was performed on 270 married working women and their spouses in 2017 to 2018 in Mashhad. The Demographic Characteristics Questionnaire consisting of 50 questions and the Carlson Work-Family Conflict Questionnaire including 183 questions were completed for working women and their husbands. The collected data, after ensuring the accuracy of data entry were evaluated and assessed.

Results: In this study, a total of 540 people (270 couples) were included in the study with a mean age of 34.46 ± 6.61 years for women and a mean age of
38.15 ± 6.97 years for men. The scores obtained from the work-family conflict questionnaire show that the mean scores obtained from working women were 49.391 ± 1.47 and the mean scores of their husbands were 49.01 ± 12.67. The number of current children was positively and significantly correlated with time conflict (p value = 0.02) and the total score of work-family conflict (p value = 0.04). And the total score of work-family conflict (p value = 0.008) had a positive and significant correlation.

Conclusion: The number of current children and the number of desired children have a positive and significant correlation with time conflict, pressure and total score of work-family conflict. The results of this study help policy-makers determine and reorganize women's working hours and provide facilities to working women to reduce work-family conflict and thus take steps to reduce conflict, strengthen marital relationships and increase childbearing.