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

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-06-2019-0087
• Date: 02 April 2020
• Pages: 403-415
• Published date: 02 April 2020
• Author: Talat Islam,Mubbsher Munawar Khan,Ishfaq Ahmed,Ahmad Usman,Muhammad Ali
• Subject Matter: Public policy & environmental management,Policing,Criminal justice,Juvenile/youth crime,Police studies,Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Criminology & criminal justice

Work-family conflict and job

dissatisfaction among police

officers: mediation of threat to

family role and moderation of role

segmentation enhancement

Talat Islam

Institute of Business Administration, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

Mubbsher Munawar Khan

Hailey College of Banking and Finance, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

Ishfaq Ahmed

Hailey College of Commerce, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

Ahmad Usman

Institute of Administrative Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan, and

Muhammad Ali

Institute of Business Administration, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

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 revealedthat 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.

Keywords Boundary management tactic, Job satisfaction, Punjab police, Source attribution perspective,

Female police

Paper type Research paper

Introduction

Policing is an important sector in society, which is responsible for maintaining law and order,

and serves as guard of the society. However, maintaining law and order demands a constant

commitment of actively engaging in vigilance and surveillance from the police (Malach-pines

and Kienan, 2007), and this hectic routine makes this profession very demanding and

stressful, of which public is not completely aware of Selokar et al. (2011). Continuous stress

affects not only an individual’s physical health but also his family life, which, in turn, causes

Work-family

conflict and job

dissatisfaction

403

We are thankful to the anonymous reviewers and all the participants of this study.

The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:

https://www.emerald.com/insight/1363-951X.htm

Received 15 June 2019

Revised 15 December 2019

19 January 2020

Accepted 4 February 2020

Policing: An International Journal

Vol. 43 No. 2, 2020

pp. 403-415

© Emerald Publishing Limited

1363-951X

DOI 10.1108/PIJPSM-06-2019-0087