Gender as a moderator of the relationship between job demand and quality of work-life of police personnel in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Previous studies have linked quality of work-life with functional job behaviours which may enhance the quality of services rendered by police personnel. However, there is a need to investigate how gender may moderate the connection between job demand and quality of work-life, especially among female police personnel who are often faced with challenges of balancing family and work responsibilities. Against this background, this study tested the level at which gender moderates the relationship between job demand and police personnel’s quality of work-life. Participants were 944 police personnel (429 females; 515 males) whose ages ranged from 24 to 60 years (M = 38.66 years, SD = 8.43). The study hypotheses were tested with 3-step hierarchical multiple regression. The results showed that job demand led to a significant decrease in quality of work-life of police personnel. Gender significantly moderated the relationship between job demand and quality of work-life, in such a way that female police personnel had better quality of work-life than their male counterparts. The findings of this study indicated that gender is an important factor in police personnel’s quality of work-life. In order to improve the quality of work-life of police personnel in Nigeria, police personnel should be exposed to adequate job rewards, which may balance out the adverse effects of job demand. Also, Ministry of Police Affairs in Nigeria should provide support to police personnel especially the males in order to improve their quality of work-life.