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Title: | The experiences of work-life balance, stress, and coping lifestyles of female professionals: insights from a developing country |
Authors: | Akainji, B Mordi, C Ajonbadi, HA |
Issue Date: | 9-May-2020 |
Publisher: | Emerald |
Citation: | Akainji, B., Mordi, C. and Ajonbadi, HA. (2020) 'The experiences of work-life balance, stress, and coping lifestyles of female professionals: insights from a developing country', Employee Relations, 42 (4), pp. 999 - 1015. doi: 10.1108/ER-01-2019-0089. |
Abstract: | 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. |
URI: | https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/20771 |
DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-01-2019-0089 |
ISSN: | 0142-5455 |
Other Identifiers: | ORCID iD: Chima Mordi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1921-1660 |
Appears in Collections: | Brunel Business School Research Papers |
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