Impact of Work-Family Balance on Career Development of Female Health Professionals with Mediating Role of Job Performance and Moderating Role of Gender Friendly Environment

Abstract

Nowadays, the challenge faced by healthcare organizations is that female healthcare professionals are not joining the medical workforce in Pakistan, and it creates a serious necessity to understand the effects of Work-Family Balance (WFB) on Women Career Development (WCD). This study addressed the gaps that how WFB was related to job performance (JP) and WCD; and whether gender friendly environment (GFE) would strong or weak this relationship. The focus of this research was to investigate the impact of WFB on the WCD of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals with mediating role of JP and moderating role of GFE. Using the convenience sampling method, a sample of 200 female health professionals was selected. The study design was cross-sectional, and self-administered questionnaires were used. Data were analyzed using correlation and regression analysis. The precise testing of the causal relationship was not possible due to the cross-sectional study design. This study was limited by its geographical area coverage and small sample size. A comparative study could not be done in public and private hospitals. Results show that the relationship between WFB and WCD was found to be insignificant, and this relationship was not mediated by JP. The moderating effect of GFE was found to be significant and suggests that high GFE supports WCD. Human resource managers should take measures and formulate strategies for GFE which will support the career development of female health professionals in healthcare organizations.