연구목적은 간호사와 여성근로자의 일-생활 균형(Work-life balance, WLB)의 차이를 살펴보고, WLB가 직무만족도와 이직의도에 미치는 영향을 살펴보는 것이다. 5곳의 종합병원 간호사(n=437)와 대졸 여성임금근로자(n=786)의 자료를 성향점수 매칭하여 분석하였다. 간호사는 여성근로자보다 낮은 WLB, 낮은 직무만족도, 높은 이직의도를 보였다. 다변량 분석결과, 일→생활 균형은 두 군에서 직무만족도에 정적 관계였고, 간호사에서 일→생활 균형은 이직의도에 부적 관계였으며 여성근로자에서는 생활→일 균형이 이직의도에 부적 관계였다. 간호직은 대표적 여성전문직에도 일-생활 균형지원제도의 적용 대상에서 상대적으로 뒤처져 있다. 맞춤 개선 전략과 지원이 조직과 체계 차원에서 모색될 필요가 있다.
Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in work-life balance (WLB) between hospital nurses and female wage workers and to investigate its effect on job satisfaction and turnover intention. Methods: This exploratory comparative study used data from five general hospital nurses (n=437) and college-graduate level female wage workers (n=786). After propensity score matching, the effects of WLB subtypes (work→life balance, life→work balance) on job satisfaction and turnover intention were analyzed. Results: Hospital nurses had lower levels of WLB subtypes (2.6±0.5, 2.6±0.5), lower job satisfaction (2.8±0.7), higher turnover intention rate (65.5%) than wage workers (3.1±0.4, 2.9±0.4, 3.5±0.5, 1.7%). Analysis of job satisfaction showed significant relationship between work→life balance and job satisfaction in both groups (β=0.32, p≤.001; β=0.18, p=.004). Second, the analysis of turnover intention differed between the two groups. Among hospital nurses, the higher the level of work→life balance, the lower the turnover intention rate (OR=0.49, p=.015), while among wage workers, the opposite was true (OR=0.29, p=.038). Conclusions: The level of WLB of hospital nurses was relatively low, negatively affecting job satisfaction and turnover intentions. Despite being one of the major female professions, the nursing occupation lacks support for WLB, suggesting a need for tailored support through organizational and social systems.