The experiences of work-life balance, stress, and coping lifestyles of female professionals : insights from a developing country
Purpose: Given the limiting conditions of the gender roles confronting professional working women and drawing on spillover theory, the purpose of this paper is to explore the experiences of work-life balance with an emphasis on the causes of the imbalances, perceived stress, and coping techniques experienced by female medical doctors in an African context – Nigeria, a geographical location that is considered under-researched. Design/methodology/approach: The qualitative data is based on one-to-one in-depth interviews with 52 Nigerian female medical doctors. Findings: Based on the findings of the thematic analysis, it is clear that time squeeze, as a well-known factor in the medical profession, exacerbates negative work-home interference. However, other themes, such as patriarchal proclivities and task-pay disparity, that affect female doctors but are rarely considered in studies on work-life balance also emerged as sources of stress and work-family conflicts, leaving these doctors to devise individual coping methods as mitigating strategies. Research limitations/implications: The study relies on a limited qualitative sample size, which makes the generalisation of findings difficult. However, the study contributes to the limited literature on the implications of stress and work-family incompatibilities facing women in a society that is not particularly egalitarian, with an extremely pronounced culture of masculine hegemony that is contrary to western cultures. The article unveils the socio-cultural difficulties of the work-life demands facing women specific to the Nigerian society and experienced with a different level of intensity. Originality/value: The majority of the research on work-life balance has been undertaken in western countries and has focused on various professional groups and organisations, including the health sector. Nevertheless, work-life balance is a novel concept within the Nigerian work environment, where female medical doctors, as a professional group, are rarely studied. The article also provides valuable insights into the macro-contextual features influencing the work-life balance of Nigerian professional women.
Year of publication: |
2020
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Authors: | Akanji, Babatunde ; Mordi, Chima ; Ajonbadi, Hakeem Adeniyi |
Published in: |
Employee Relations: The International Journal. - Emerald, ISSN 0142-5455, ZDB-ID 2031891-1. - Vol. 42.2020, 4 (06.05.), p. 999-1015
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Publisher: |
Emerald |
Saved in:
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