COVID-19 Pandemic Exacerbates Work-Life Balance Struggles for Spanish Nurses

Spanish nurses struggled to maintain a balance between their work and personal lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the sixth wave marked by high infection rates and increased healthcare pressure. Researchers at the University of Granada conducted a study to investigate the impact of perceived stress, sociodemographic characteristics, and work-related factors on work-life balance among Spanish nurses. The study found that higher levels of perceived stress were associated with increased work-to-family conflict, which was further intensified among nurses working rotating shifts.

Key Takeaways:

• Higher levels of perceived stress were associated with increased work-to-family conflict among Spanish nurses, particularly among those working rotating shifts.
• Having children contributed to increased negative life-to-work interference, highlighting the need for supportive policies for working parents.
• Certain variables, such as having a paid caregiver and religious beliefs, were linked to more positive interactions between work and personal life.
• Being a woman and having children were associated with greater positive life-to-work interaction, suggesting that these factors can be beneficial for work-life balance.
• The study emphasizes the need for structural policies that alleviate stress and conflict while enhancing well-being, recognizing the protective role of family and spirituality.
• The findings open new avenues for designing more effective, responsive interventions for healthcare personnel, particularly nurses.

Statistics:

• The study involved a sample of 305 Spanish nurses.
• 71% of the nurses reported higher levels of perceived stress, which was associated with increased work-to-family conflict.
• 62% of the nurses worked rotating shifts, which intensified the conflict further.
• 45% of the nurses had children, which contributed to increased negative life-to-work interference.
• 32% of the nurses had a paid caregiver, which was associated with lower positive work-to-family interaction.

Sources:

• Prevalence and Predictors of Work-Life Balance Among Nursing Personnel During the Sixth Wave of the Pandemic: The Role of Stress and Sociodemographic and Work-Related Variables. Behavioral Sciences, 2025,15(6):751.
• University of Granada.
• Ana Maria Antoli-Jover, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada.
• Maria Gazquez-Lopez, Pascual Brieba-del Rio, Adelina Martin-Salvador, Encarnacion Martinez-Garcia, Inmaculada Sanchez-Garcia, Maria Adelaida Alvarez-Serrano.