Work-family conflict and psychophysical health conditions of nurses: Gender differences and moderating variables

This study aims to investigate the associations of perceived work-family conflict with nurses' psychophysical health conditions, exploring gender differences and analyzing the potential moderating effects of perceived job control (skill discretion and decision authority), social support, and job satisfaction.

The study was carried out in five hospitals of the Italian Public Health Service. Participants were 450 nurses (206 men, 244 women). Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted.

Female nurses perceived significantly higher levels of work-family conflict, anxiety, depression and somatization. Significant gender differences emerged in the associations between work-family conflict and nurses' psychological health conditions and in moderating variables. Work-family conflict was significantly associated with anxiety and depression in male nurses and with somatization in both genders. The associations of work-family conflict with nurses' psychophysical health conditions were moderated by decision authority and job satisfaction, in male nurses, and by social support, in female nurses.

Findings suggest including gender-specific moderating variables for defining tailored policies and interventions within healthcare organizations to reduce perceived work-family conflict and to promote nurses' wellbeing.