Gender, Work-Family Inter-role Conflict, and Work-Resources Among Nurses: Impact on Psychophysical Health Conditions According to Life Stages

The present study aimed at examining the impact of Gender, Work-Family Inter-role Conflict (Work-Family, Family-Work Conflicts), and Work-Resources (Job-Control, Social-Support, Job-Satisfaction) on nurses’ psychophysical health conditions (Anxiety, Depression, Somatization) according to six Life Stages, namely <34 years old-with no children, <34 years old-having at least a child, 35-53 years old-with no children, 35-53 years old-having at least a child, >54 years old-with no children, >54 years old-having at least a child. Overall, 497 nurses completed a questionnaire comprising Socio-demographics, the Work–Family and Family–Work Conflict Scales, the Job-Content-Questionnaire, the Job-Satisfaction Subscale, and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. Descriptives and Hierarchical-Multiple-Regressions were conducted according to the six Life Stages. Data revealed that Work-Family Inter-role Conflicts have a detrimental effect in all life stages but for nurses>54 years old-with no children. Nurses<34 years were at higher psychological risk linked to perceived Family-Work Conflict, irrespective of having children, whereas nurses >35 years old were at higher psychological risk linked to perceived Work-Family-Conflict. Gender (Women) emerged as a further risk factor only for nurses >35 years old having children. Overall, work-resources were found able to act as significant aid fostering psychological health across life stages, yet job satisfaction played as a specific protective role only for nurses between 35-53 years old. Specificities in risks profiles and resources according to the outcomes were also found. Findings can be used to develop tailored interventions reducing perceived work-family inter-role conflicts, fostering work-resources and promoting psychophysical health conditions among nurses which also address the specificities of nurses’ life stages.