AUTHOR=Jerg-Bretzke Lucia , Limbrecht-Ecklundt Kerstin , Walter Steffen , Spohrs Jennifer , Beschoner Petra 

TITLE=Correlations of the “Work–Family Conflict” With Occupational Stress—A Cross-Sectional Study Among University Employees

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00134

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00134

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=Background: The working conditions at universities and hospitals are reported to be stressful. Several national and international studies have investigated occupational stress in hospitals. However, scientific studies at colleges and universities addressing psycho-social stress factors and the potential consequences are scarce. In this context, especially the factor work-family-conflict, its consequences and correlations are currently unattended. Aim of our study was to assess data on psychosocial stress in the context of the compatibility of work and family. 
Methods: Data was assessed a cross-sectional-study, N = 844 (55% female, 41% male). University staff (42.3% scientists, 14.3% physicians, 19.4% employees in administration, 19.3% employees in service). Participants filled out questionnaires related to their personal data, work and private life conditions. For this purpose, we used the Work-Family-, Family-Work-Conflict–Scale, the Effort-Reward-Inventory and Overcommitment-Scale (ERI, OC), the Patient-Health-Questionnaire (PHQ-4), short form Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and questions on their subjective health. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 22. 
Results: We found high stress parameters in the total sample: extra work (83%), fixed term work contracts (53%), overcommitment (OC, 26%), Effort-Reward-Imbalance (18%, ERI-Ratio > Cut-off 0,715), work-family-conflict (WFC, 35%) and family-work-conflict (FWC, 39 %). As hypothesised, we found significant correlations between both parameters WFC and FWC, and psychosocial work strain (ERI-Ratio) as well as overcommitment (OC). Mental- and somatic health parameters correlated significantly positive with WFC and FWC, too. Using a regression analysis (N = 844), we identified WFC as a predictor of burnout, while emotional exhaustion, extra work and overcommitment could be identified as predictors of a WFC and FWC. 
Discussion: The results of our study point towards deficits in the compatibility of work life and private life in the work fields of science, colleges and universities. Furthermore we found indicators for work–family-conflicts (interrole conflicts) having an impact on mental- and somatic health. These work–family-conflicts should be targets for preventions and interventions with the aim to improve the work-life-balance and mental- and somatic wellbeing of employees.