The relationship of select demographic, psychological, and social support variables with work-to-family and family-to-work conflict in medical students.

Abstract

One hundred and twenty medical students participated in this investigation of the relationship of select demographic, psychological, and social support variables with work-to-family and family-to-work conflict. A series of multiple regression analyses were conducted. Based upon existing literature, select groups of demographic, psychological, and social support variables were identified and entered as blocks in a series of multiple regression analyses, first predicting work-to-family and then family-to-work conflict. The first series of multiple regression analyses examined both the unique and collective contributions of demographic, psychological, and social support blocks in predicting work-to-family conflict. Only the psychological and social support blocks alone significantly predicted work-to-family conflict. In the final analysis, in which all three blocks were entered into the equation, 39% of the variance in work-to-family conflict was accounted for. In the second series of multiple regression analyses, family-to-work conflict served as the criterion. Each of the three blocks alone significantly predicted family-to-work conflict, and a linear combination of the three blocks accounted for 51% of the variance in family-to-work conflict. The implications of these findings for medical colleges are discussed.