The Impact of Job Stress on Employee Performance and the Mediating Role of Work-Family Conflict

Abstract

This research explores how job-related stress influences the performance of female employees, with a particular focus on the intermediary role played by work-family conflict (WFC). Conducted among female civil servants in Indragiri Hilir Regency, Indonesia, the study adopts a quantitative, causal-explanatory design. A total of 98 participants were selected through census sampling from multiple regional government institutions. Data were obtained via standardized questionnaires and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) through the SmartPLS 3.2.9 application. The empirical findings suggest that while WFC does not exert a direct influence on performance outcomes, it significantly contributes to elevated stress levels. Interestingly, job stress was found to have a positive and statistically significant impact on performance, indicating that a certain level of stress may serve a motivating function, often referred to as eustress. Nevertheless, the anticipated mediating effect of job stress in the WFC–performance relationship was not supported by the data. The study offers a valuable contribution to occupational health literature by showing that, under specific conditions, moderate stress can enhance employee output, particularly for women balancing professional and domestic roles. For policymakers and public sector leaders, these findings underscore the importance of fostering supportive work environments through flexible scheduling, family-oriented initiatives, and stress-reduction strategies. The results further point to the necessity of developing gender-sensitive workplace interventions that address the nuanced pressures experienced by female civil servants.