Exploring the impact of multiple social roles on job satisfaction and absenteeism among staff nurses
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Abstract
The impact of multiple social roles on job satisfaction, absenteeism and perceived reasons for absenteeism was investigated using a convenience sample of seventy-nine critical care and medical-surgical staff nurses at a tertiary-care hospital. Sieber's Role Accumulation theory, first described in 1974, was used as the theoretical framework. This theory suggests that the benefits of cumulative social roles outweigh the negative effects, thereby leading to enhanced self-esteem and decreased social isolation. Role accumulation counters the predominant belief that multiple roles for women result in role strain. There is little in the literature that studies the impact of factors outside of work on job satisfaction and absenteeism in nursing.
The roles defined for the purpose of this study were those of nurse, spouse, parent and student and were measured through the use of an investigator-designed questionnaire. Absenteeism was measured by the subjects' recalling the numbers of days they were absent on scheduled work days in 1986. Reasons for these absences were elicited. Job satisfaction was measured using Stamps and Piedmonte's Index of Work Satisfaction.
Nurses with all four roles had a slightly higher mean job satisfaction scale score when compared to nurses with the single role of nurse. Multiple roles did not have a negative effect on this group of nurses. In fact those with accumulated social roles had fewer days absent for reasons of illness and stress than those with one role.
The findings have implications for scheduling, recruitment and retention of nurses. In view of the present nursing shortage, more extensive research on nurses and their ability to integrate their personal and professional lives is warranted.
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Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University
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