Navigating Dual Roles: The Impact of Work-Family Conflict on Mental Health and the Essential Role of Counselling Services for Malaysian Professional Women

Abstract

In recent years, balancing work and family responsibilities has become increasingly challenging for professional women in Malaysia. This study explores the relationship between work-family conflict, mental health, and attitudes toward seeking professional counselling as a vital support mechanism. Although the impact of work-family conflict on mental health is well-documented, there is a lack of comprehensive analysis on how counselling can moderate this relationship among Malaysian professional women. Addressing this gap is crucial, as it highlights the mental health challenges faced by this demographic. Utilising data from a sample of 362 professional women, the analysis of moderator variables revealed significant relationships concerning their mental health. A positive correlation was found between the need for counselling services and mental health (β = 0.263, p < 0.001), indicating that greater reliance on counselling is associated with improved mental health outcomes. The relationship between work-family conflict and mental health was also significant (β = 0.077, p = 0.009), though its impact was relatively smaller in magnitude. Importantly, counselling services emerged as a significant moderator of the work-family conflict–mental health relationship (β = 0.138, p = 0.019), suggesting that counselling can alleviate the negative effects of work-family conflict on mental health. The moderation effect size (f² = 0.09) indicates a small to moderate practical significance. These findings underscore the importance of integrating counselling interventions into support programs for professional women. The implications for stakeholders, including practitioners, policymakers, and mental health advocates, are profound. By recognising the critical role of counselling services, targeted strategies can be developed to enhance the mental health of professional women in Malaysia, fostering improved outcomes and a healthier work-life balance that can benefit women in similar contexts worldwide. However, the cross-sectional design precludes causal conclusions, and self-report data may introduce response bias. Future longitudinal research is needed to establish temporal relationships.