Exploring the Link between Work- Family Conflict and Workplace Deviant Behaviour among Police Personnel: The Mediating Role of Psychosocial Work Factors

Comfort Binipom Mpuan; Patricia Akua Biney; Justice Mensah

Comfort Binipom Mpuan Department of Organization and Human Resource Management University of Ghana Business School, Accra, Ghana
Patricia Akua Biney Department of Organization and Human Resource Management University of Ghana Business School, Accra, Ghana
Justice Mensah Department of Organization and Human Resource Management University of Ghana Business School, Accra, Ghana

Keywords: Work-Family Conflict, Workplace Deviant Behaviour, Psychosocial Work Factors, Situational Action Theory (SAT), Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory, Ghana Police Service

Abstract

This study examines the impact of Work-Family Conflict (WFC) and Family-Work Conflict (FWC) on Workplace Deviant Behaviour (WDB) and the mediating role of psychosocial work factors (PWFs) among personnel of the Ghana Police Service, underpinned by the Situational Action Theory (SAT) and the Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, with data collected from 412 police personnel using structured questionnaires. Findings revealed a counter-intuitive effect: WFC negatively predicted WDB, contrary to patterns typically reported in literature. In contrast, FWC positively predicted WDB. Support from superiors and coworkers, empowering and fair leadership, and innovative climate partially mediated the relationship between WFC and WDB, while support from friends and social climate showed no mediation but significant moderation effects.
Furthermore, social climate partially mediated the relationship between FWC and WDB. The study extends literature by examining both directions of WFC and their behavioural consequences within a non-Western, high-stress occupational setting. It also highlights the protective role of PWFs in mitigating WDB, offering practical insights for leadership and policy interventions in law enforcement agencies.