Background: Undertaking degree studies while working can provide life-changing career opportunities. These studies, however, can introduce substantial work-life balance conflict, particularly for those with family responsibilities, with important implications for retention. Aim: The aim of this study is to test theory that predicts the effects of certain moderating and mediated influences on the relationship between work-life balance conflict and turnover intentions of professional staff undertaking evening degree classes at a selected South African university. Setting: The sample was drawn from a large university in Gauteng, South Africa. Methods: This study applies Hayes's PROCESS methodology to test the moderating effects of age, gender, numbers of dependent children, social support, engagement and levels of stress on the relationship between work-life conflict and turnover intentions. Further tests of mediation are performed to test the mediating influence of job satisfaction on the same relationship. Results: Findings suggest a unique configuration of moderating and mediation influences relating to the work-life balance conflict for this cohort, particularly for those with dependent children. Those with more children who experience higher levels of work-life balance conflict are less likely to display higher turnover intentions. Individuals with higher levels of social support are however more likely to report higher levels of turnover intentions. Conclusion: These results support the conclusion that the relationships between work-life conflict and turnover intentions for working individuals undertaking evening degree classes in this context, display a different configuration of moderating influences from those expected in general working populations. Employers and other stakeholders should pay particular attention to these implications so as to ensure retention of scarce skills.

中文翻译：

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工作与生活的平衡、工作满意度和保留：兼职学习专业人士的离职意向

背景：在工作期间攻读学位可以提供改变生活的职业机会。然而，这些研究可能会引入大量的工作与生活平衡冲突，特别是对于那些有家庭责任的人，这对留任具有重要意义。目的：本研究的目的是检验预测某些调节和中介影响对在选定的南非大学从事夜间学位课程的专业人员的工作与生活平衡冲突与离职意向之间关系的影响的理论。设置：样本来自南非豪登省的一所大型大学。方法：本研究应用 Hayes 的 PROCESS 方法来测试年龄、性别、受抚养子女数量、社会支持、工作与生活冲突与离职意向之间关系的敬业度和压力水平。进一步的中介检验是为了检验工作满意度对同一关系的中介影响。结果：研究结果表明，与该队列的工作与生活平衡冲突相关的调节和中介影响的独特配置，特别是对于那些有受抚养子女的人。那些有更多孩子的人经历了更高水平的工作与生活平衡冲突，不太可能表现出更高的离职意向。然而，具有较高社会支持水平的个人更有可能报告较高水平的离职意向。结论：这些结果支持这样的结论，即在这种情况下，从事晚间学位课程的工作人员的工作-生活冲突与离职意向之间的关系，显示出与一般工作人群中预期的不同的调节影响配置。雇主和其他利益相关者应特别注意这些影响，以确保保留稀缺技能。