Work-Family Interference and Occupational Burnout among Employees in Service Occupations in Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the extent to which two directions of work-family interference (work interfering with family and family interfering with work) were associated with occupational burnout. It was a cross-sectional survey involving 311 employees (147 males; 164 females) sampled from 2 service occupations (Health=149; Bank=162) in southwestern Nigeria. Results of the hierarchical multiple regression indicated that type of service occupation was significantly associated with emotional exhaustion and overall occupational burnout with employees in the health sector experiencing higher burnout than those in the banking sector. However, there were no occupational differences in employees’ level of dehumanization and feelings of reduced personal accomplishment. Family interfering with work was significantly associated with dehumanization, feelings of reduced personal accomplishment and overall occupational burnout such that employees’ levels of dehumanization, feelings of reduced personal accomplishment, and overall occupational burnout increased with family interfering with work. Family interfering with work was not associated with emotional exhaustion. Work interference with family was not associated with emotional exhaustion, dehumanization, and overall occupational burnout. However, employees who experienced high work interference with family reported low feelings of reduced personal accomplishment. In order to reduce occupational burnout among employees in service occupations, adequate job resources that help manage the perceived incompatibility in work and family roles should be provided.