Work-life conflict in the health-care industry: comparative study between male and female employees in Mexico and Sweden

Abstract: The present article reports the results based on a study that explored the influence of gender-country interaction in the work-life conflict experience among a sample of employees in the health-care industry. It highlights the importance of cultural background, presuming that men and women will experience work-life conflict differently depending on their nationality/cultural background. Additionally, this research also discusses the causes and potential consequences of work-life conflict and its link to additional demographic variables such as age, cohabitant status, and children living at home. For the purpose of the analysis, work-life conflict was divided into three different measures, namely work-life imbalance, work to life conflict, and life to work conflict. Data were subjected to descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (Anova test), post-hoc test (Tukey test), and non-parametric test (Kruskal-Wallis test). It was found that gender-country interaction did not have an influence in none of the work-life conflict measures; however, country on its own did influence work-life imbalance, as well as work to life conflict. It was also detected that participants age influenced in their work to life conflict experience. Furthermore, participants’ cohabitant status had an influence not only in work-life imbalance but also in life to work conflict, and having children living at home, also influenced work-life imbalance.