Work–family conflict and anxiety among nurses of the maternal and child health institutions: the mediating role of job satisfaction

INTRODUCTION: Over the past decades, anxiety has garnered significant attention from nursing population. Investigations have centered on the correlation between work–family conflict (WFC) and anxiety as well as the link between job satisfaction and anxiety among nurses. However, the role of job satisfaction plays in the relationship between work–family conflict and anxiety remains relatively unexplored. METHODS: In April 2021, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among nurses (N = 3,770) working at the maternal and child health institutions in Henan province, China. Multiple linear regression model was used to explore the factors associated with anxiety. Model 4 in Hayes’s PROCESS macro and Bootstrap method was performed to examine the mediating role of job satisfaction in the relationship between work–family conflict and anxiety. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) anxiety score was 5.00 (6.00). Work–family conflict was shown to be significantly correlated to job satisfaction (r = −0.517, p < 0.001) and anxiety (r = 0.457, p < 0.01). There was a strong negative correlation between job satisfaction and anxiety (r = −0.379, p < 0.01). The study also found that nurses aged 31–40 years, those with a junior college education (p = 0.001), those with an undergraduate or above education (p < 0.001), those who reported experiencing work–family conflict (p < 0.001), and those with lower job satisfaction (p < 0.001) were more likely to experience anxiety. Additionally, job satisfaction partially (a*b = 20.90%) mediated the relationship between work–family conflict and anxiety. CONCLUSION: The association between work–family conflict and anxiety among nurses in maternity and child health institutions was moderated by job satisfaction. Therefore, it is critical to enhance working conditions, minimize work–family conflict, and promoting job satisfaction among nurses may help to mitigate the negative effects of work–family conflict on anxiety.