Job Characteristics, Emotional Exhaustion, and Work–Family Conflict in Nurses

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify whether emotional exhaustion, a component of burnout, mediates the relationship between job demands, job resources, and work–family conflict (WFC). A cross-sectional design was used with survey data. A total of 1,202 nurses in eastern Canada participated in this study. Data were collected via an online survey and analyzed using mediation analysis. The results indicated that job demands and emotional exhaustion predicted WFC. Moreover, emotional exhaustion partially mediated the relationship between job demands, supervisor support, and WFC. This model also showed that younger nurses had increased WFC. Our study indicates that there are several direct and indirect pathways leading to WFC. Moreover, workplace resources can reduce emotional exhaustion, which, in turn, may help maintain work–family balance in nurses. These findings contribute to the existing knowledge on the precursors and consequences of burnout symptoms.