Gender and family characteristics differences in work-family, family-work conflicts and stress among dual-income earners families: (an empirical analysis in cosmopolitan Lagos, Nigeria)

Abstract

The study examined the significant gender and family characteristics differences in work-family conflict, family-work conflict among workers in Lagos metropolis. Employee’s perception as reflected in self reports constituted the central features of a model underlying the study, as perception is believed to be related to the individual experience. A total sample comprising 632 married dual-income earners drawn from human service oriented public and private organisations, participated in the study organisations. They consist of 119 males and 159 females from the public sector, and 141 males and 213 female from the private sector. The study was anchored on the Role-Strain Theory (Greenhaus & Beutell 1985) and Job-Demand-Control model (Karasek, 1979). Participants responded to Work-Family Conflict, Family-Work Conflict, Stress Symptom Checklist. The data collected were analyzed using Chi-square contingency analysis, independent t-test and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Result obtained showed that: (i) female workers generally reported high level of work-family conflict compared to male workers (ii) work-family conflict was higher among male workers who have at least 3 children who were above 6 years of age (iii) female workers that have family support in form of assistant of family members, house helps and support of neigbours, reported less family-work conflict (iv) work-family conflict was higher among private sector workers compared to their counterparts in the public sector. (v) Physical stress was higher among male and female in the private sector compared to male/public sector workers. Based on these findings recommendations were made on the need for organisations to mount intervention programmes that would minimize the strains occasioned by the nature of modern work structure and thereby reduce inter-role conflicts. Such as provision for flex time, on-site child care centres, paid maternal and paternal holiday and co-workers supports. Implications of the findings for future research are discussed.

Keywords: Gender Difference, Family Characteristics, Work-Family Conflict, Family-Work Conflict)