Work-Family Conflict and Satisfaction Among Female Police Officers. The Moderating Role of Social Support

ABSTRACT

Globally, conflict between work and family has gained the attention of researchers. This heightened interest can be attributed to the effects of work-family conflict on individuals and organisations. Hence, this study sought to ascertain the relationship that exists between work-family conflict and satisfaction while examining whether social support can have an effect on the relationship between them. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, the study made use of quantitative research approach. The study, which adopted cross-sectional survey design sampled female police officers in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The Work-family Conflict Scale, Index of Satisfaction, Satisfaction with Life Scale and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were employed to gather data on the study variables. In total, 311 valid questionnaires were retrieved for analysis. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was the analytical technique employed to test the hypotheses for the study. Also, regression was done to confirm the SEM results. It was revealed in the study that work-family conflict is significantly related to job satisfaction. However, the relationship between work-family conflict and family satisfaction is not significant. Again, work-family conflict has no significant relationship with life satisfaction of female police officers. The study also found that social support does not influence the relationship between work-family conflict and satisfaction. Based on these findings, the study recommends that the leadership of the Ghana Police Service should train female police officers on how to deal with work-family conflict to help reduce its prevalence. Again, workable measures should be put in place by government to reduce work-family conflict. The study concludes that work-family conflict is moderately prevalent among females in Ghana Police Service. It therefore predicts their satisfaction on the job. However, it is not a predictor of their family satisfaction and life satisfaction.