Does job satisfaction mediate the relationship between work-family conflict and psychological strain? A study of Australian social workers

The present study investigated the mediating effects of job satisfaction on the relationship between work-family conflict and psychological strain among Australian social workers. Data for the study were collected by an online survey of the membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers, yielding 439 usable responses. The results provide evidence that job satisfaction mediates the relationship between work-to-family conflict, family-to-work conflict and psychological strain. These findings contribute significantly to the social work literature on work-family interface and confirm the importance of developing and targeting not only strategies that aim to reduce work-family conflict, but also those that aim to increase job satisfaction among social workers.