Mediating role of household constraint in the relationship between W-F conflict and mental health among female bank employees

Pages: 469-475
Suneeta Yadav (Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Psychology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh)

The role of women in India has changed drastically attaining a new definition and perspective in the last few decades. Being employed outside for these women, does not mean a reversal in the priority of home and household related activities and these are still considered to be their prime responsibility by society as well as the women themselves. Household constraint experienced by employed women may include effort, time and economic constraint that eventually affect both physical and mental health if not managed effectively. The interplay of Household constraint and work-family conflict, experienced more widely by employed women due to their dual responsibilities, can play havoc with their mental health. Researchers suggest that, employed women experience work-family conflict due to involvement at work place as well as in the family, which is likely to have negative consequences for their mental health. However, it is not to be denied that work-family conflict alone may not lead to poor mental health but possibility of household stress emanating from the conflict may be the real reason for the negative mental health consequences. This study, aimed at examining the mediating role of various dimensions of Household constraint in the relationship between Work-Family Conflict and Mental Health among female bank employees. Work-Family Conflict Scale, Mental Health Inventory and Household Demand Schedule were administered individually to 250 clerical level female bank employees. The collected data was analyzed using a Pearson ‘r’ test and computing Partial correlations. Analysis of the data showed that on dimensions of Household constraint, Effort, Economic and Overall Household constraint, except Time constraint, partially mediate the relationship between W-to-F Conflict and Overall Mental Health. However, only Effort and Overall Household constraint partially mediate the relationship between Family-to-Work Conflict and Overall Mental Health. Results have been analyzed in the light of the stresses that are experienced by women working in banking sector in context to their work and home lives.