Job characteristics and coping strategies associated with negative and positive work-home interference in a nursing environment

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine which job characteristics and coping strategies predict negative and positive work-home interference (WHI) in the nursing environment. Random samples (n=300) were taken of registered nurses in the Johannesburg, Klerksdorp, Krugersdorp, Potchefstroom and Pretoria regions. A self-constructed questionnaire was used to measure job characteristics. The Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI) was used to measure coping strategies, and the Survey Work-Home Interaction-Nijmegen (SWING) to measure WHI. The results show that time demands, pressure, role clarity and colleague support are the main job characteristics that predict negative WHI. Problem-solving coping predicts less negative WHI and avoidance coping predicts more negative WHI. Time demands, autonomy and role clarity are the main variables that predict positive WHI. Problem-solving coping is the only coping strategy that predicts positive WHI.