title: The influence of perceived stress on work-family conflict and mental health: the moderating effect of person-environment fit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examines whether higher perceived stress among female hospital workers can result in more serious work-family conflict (WFC) and poorer mental health, and also identifies the role that person-environment (P-E) fit plays in moderating these relationships.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Female hospital workers with higher perceived stress tend to report greater WFC and worse mental health than others with less perceived stress. A better fit between a person and her environment may lead to lower perceived stress. As a result, she may experience less WFC and better mental health.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study adopts a longitudinal design with 273 participants, all of whom are employed by hospitals in Taiwan. All hypotheses are tested using hierarchical regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results show that perceived stress is an effective predictor of WFC and mental health status, whereas the P-E fit can moderate these relationships.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hospitals should pay more attention to the negative effects of perceived high stress on the WFC levels and mental health of their female employees. The P-E fit can buffer effectively the impact of perceived stress on both WFC and mental health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If hospitals can adopt appropriate human resource management practices as well as monitor and manage the P-E fit continuously, they can better help their employees to fit into the overall hospital environment.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Policy and Management, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Consultant, Department of Medical Education, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Chuan
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054541:Family Conflict / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006272:Health Facility Environment / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology*; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: mental health; perceived stress; person-environment fit; work-family conflict