Affiliations: [a]
Department of Health Sciences, Division of Nursing, University West, Trollhättan, Sweden
| [b]
Department of Social and Behavioral Studies, Division of Psychology, Education and Sociology, University West, Trollhättan, Sweden
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Sandra Pennbrant, RN, RNT, PhD, Professor in Healthcare Sciences, Department of Health Sciences Division of Nursing, University West, Gustava Melins Gata 2 SE-461 86 Trollhättan, Sweden. Tel.: +46 520 22 38 74; E-mail: [email protected].
ORCID: Sandra Pennbrant http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2793-9937, Anna Dåderman http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8562-5610
Abstract: BACKGROUND:The job demands on nurses have increased. Conflict between work life and family life may lead to stress and lower work engagement. Consequently, nurses may choose a different career path or leave the profession. OBJECTIVE:Examine the extent to which perceived job demands (interpersonal conflicts at work and workload), work engagement, work-family conflict and family-work conflict are associated with turnover intentions, and examine a possible moderating effect of work-family conflict on the relationship between the intention to leave the nursing profession, job demands and work engagement. METHODS:Cross-sectional study using Hobfoll’s Conservation of Resources theory. Data were collected from a sample of 807 registered nurses (RNs) from western Sweden. Tests of moderation were conducted using the PROCESS software macro developed by Andrew F. Hayes. RESULTS:Work-family conflict was a significant moderator in the relationship between the intentions to leave the nursing profession and work engagement as well as interpersonal conflicts at work. Low work engagement, high work-family conflict and high job demands intensify turnover intentions in well-educated and well-experienced nurses. CONCLUSIONS:The results imply that work-family conflict has a greater impact when RNs experience lower work engagement. In other words, higher motivation implies a lower moderation effect of work-family conflict. Managers should promote a positive working climate by listening to and providing nurses with opportunities to develop their skills. By so doing, managers can gain better understanding of nurses’ resources, knowledge and work situation, thus strengthening nurses’ confidence and ability to practice their profession.
Keywords: Conservation of resources theory, nurses, turnover intentions, work engagement, work-family conflict
DOI: 10.3233/WOR-213445
Journal: Work, vol. 68, no. 4, pp. 1157-1169, 2021
