The experience of work‐life balance for women doctors and nurses in Malaysia

Abstract

This paper explores how a specific context supports or hinders work-life balance (WLB) experiences focusing on women doctors and nurses in Malaysia. WLB and gender formed the conceptual basis of a qualitative study using in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The 26 participants were employed across public and private healthcare sectors. A systematic multistep data analytical procedure produced three key themes which contribute to the contemporary debate on WLB. In Malaysia, contextual factors exert a strong influence on WLB experiences for women doctors and nurses. Due to gender norms, women carry the burden of dual responsibilities for both professional and familial duties which disrupts WLB. Notably, collegiality at work facilitates WLB but is an informal mechanism rooted in a collectivist society.Finally, staff shortages in the healthcare sector also impede WLB. Based on the key themes, recommendations are made for a sustainable workforce in the Malaysian healthcare industry.

Balancing is a necessity not leisure: a study on work–life balance witnessing healthcare sector of Pakistan

“…The demand of doctors across the world increased rapidly after the eruption of coronavirus disease 2019 . As a result, imbalance between healthcare workforce has been observed across the world (Dousin et al, 2021). Pakistan is one of those countries facing acute shortage of doctors despite being the largest skilled workforce exporter (Aman- Ullah et al, 2021b).…”

Exploring the mediating role of flexible working hours in the relationship of supervisor support, job and life satisfaction: A study of female nurses in China

“…Hence, our research question is as follows: “does flexible working hours mediate the relationship between supervisor support to job and life satisfaction among female nurses in China?” The study offers important contribution into integrating the understanding of the issues between flexible working hours and supervisor support, where flexible working hours are an indicator of what supervisor support means; as crucial for nurses in a collectivist and patriarchal culture that emphasizes the importance of public and external roles and maintaining balance between family and professional work (Abdullah, 1996 ; Dousin, Collins, Bartram, et al., 2021 ; Dousin et al., 2021 ). Findings of the study aim not only to expand the existing nursing literature from the aspect of supervisor but also what supervisors can do to improve nurses’ job and life satisfaction, besides extending the topic which is currently understudied among nurses in China.…”

“…There has been an increase in research on work‐life balance and well‐being among nurses in recent years (see Barnett et al., 2010; Dousin, et al., 2021, Dousin, Collins, Bartram, et al. 2021; Jamieson et al., 2013; Skinner & Chapman, 2013).…”

Occupational Stress and Personality in Medical Doctors from Romania

“…With respect to the level of stress associated with maintenance of a suitable work-life balance, male participants reported a higher level. In the literature, there are contradictory results, with some studies indicating that men have a better work-life balance than women, or that there is no difference [ 74 , 75 , 76 ]. Shanafelt et al demonstrated that, over time, there has been a decrease in satisfaction with work-life balance among doctors [ 77 ].…”