Work-Family Interference and Occupational Burnout among Employees in Service Occupations in Nigeria

This study investigated the extent to which two directions of work-family interference (work interfering withfamily and family interfering with work) were associated with occupational burnout. It was a cross-sectionalsurvey involving 311 employees (147 males; 164 females) sampled from 2 service occupations (Health=149;Bank=162) in southwestern Nigeria. Results of the hierarchical multiple regression indicated that type of serviceoccupation was significantly associated with emotional exhaustion and overall occupational burnout withemployees in the health sector experiencing higher burnout than those in the banking sector. However, therewere no occupational differences in employees’ level of dehumanization and feelings of reduced personalaccomplishment. Family interfering with work was significantly associated with dehumanization, feelings ofreduced personal accomplishment and overall occupational burnout such that employees’ levels ofdehumanization, feelings of reduced personal accomplishment, and overall occupational burnout increased withfamily interfering with work. Family interfering with work was not associated with emotional exhaustion. Workinterference with family was not associated with emotional exhaustion, dehumanization, and overalloccupational burnout. However, employees who experienced high work interference with family reported lowfeelings of reduced personal accomplishment. In order to reduce occupational burnout among employees inservice occupations, adequate job resources that help manage the perceived incompatibility in work and familyroles should be provided.