Work-family conflict and job dissatisfaction among police officers: mediation of threat to family role and moderation of role segmentation enhancement

Abstract

Purpose

This study investigates the mechanism between work-family conflict (WFC) and job dissatisfaction by considering threat to family role as a mediator and role segment enhancement as a moderator.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected from 245 male and 245 female police officers using a questionnaire-based survey method through convenience sampling.

Findings

Results revealed that threat to family role partially mediates the association between WFC and job dissatisfaction. Role segment enhancement was also noted to weaken the association between WFC and job dissatisfaction. Moreover, the study revealed that male employees are more likely to draw a boundary between their work and family domain, which was not found in their female counterparts.

Research limitations/implications

The survey for this study was conducted in a male-dominant developing country, so results may be different in developed countries. The study has theoretical and managerial implications.

Originality/value

This study adds value to the existing literature on work-family conflicts in the perspective of source attribution and boundary management. Further, to the best of researchers' knowledge, none of the previous studies have examined role segment enhancement and threat to family role among the police workforce.

Citation

Islam, T., Khan, M.M., Ahmed, I., Usman, A. and Ali, M. (2020), "Work-family conflict and job dissatisfaction among police officers: mediation of threat to family role and moderation of role segmentation enhancement", Policing: An International Journal, Vol. 43 No. 2, pp. 403-415. https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-06-2019-0087