Breathing the Job within Work-family Conflict and Stress Manifestations: A Moderation Study among Nurses in Lagos, Nigeria.

Previous studies highlighted the connections of work-family conflict with low work engagement, especially in Nigeria, where healthcare facilities are plagued with grossly inadequate healthcare workers. However, there is less empirical evidence of the moderation roles of stress reactions (psychological & physiological) on the relationship, which this study tested. Participants were 725 nurses (404 females; 321 males) selected from 6 large public health facilities. They completed measures of work-family conflict, psychological and physiological manifestations of stress, and work engagement. Results showed that work engagement significantly reduced with work-family conflict, psychological and physiological manifestations of stress. Psychological and physiological manifestations of stress significantly reduced the work engagement level of nurses, especially those who reported work-family conflict. Significant gender differences occurred in work-family conflict, psychological manifestations, and work engagement, with females being more affected. Interventions should not only focus on the management of work-family conflict but should also emphasize how nurses react positively to stress, with special attention to female nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]