Effect of work schedule flexibility as a moderator in the relationship between job stress and wellbeing in pharmacy practice

Abstract Hospital pharmacists frequently face significant job stress, adversely impacting their well-being. Work schedule flexibility is often proposed as a potential buffer against job stress, yet its effectiveness among hospital pharmacists remains understudied. This study investigates the moderat...

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Main Authors: Erum Rehman, Khalid Abdullah Alotaibi, Shazia Rehman, Mehmood Ahmad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10523-y
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author Erum Rehman
Khalid Abdullah Alotaibi
Shazia Rehman
Mehmood Ahmad
author_facet Erum Rehman
Khalid Abdullah Alotaibi
Shazia Rehman
Mehmood Ahmad
author_sort Erum Rehman
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Hospital pharmacists frequently face significant job stress, adversely impacting their well-being. Work schedule flexibility is often proposed as a potential buffer against job stress, yet its effectiveness among hospital pharmacists remains understudied. This study investigates the moderating effect of work schedule flexibility on the relationship between job stress and well-being among hospital pharmacists in Punjab, Pakistan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between September 2023 and January 2024, involving 414 pharmacists working in public hospitals in Punjab province. The study utilized standardized scales to measure well-being, stress levels, and work schedule flexibility among the participants. Bivariate correlation and multiple regression analyses examined the relationships and interaction effects among the study variables. Bivariate correlation analysis revealed a negative association between job stress and well-being, a positive association between work schedule flexibility and well-being, and a negative association between work schedule flexibility and job stress. Multiple regression analysis indicated that work schedule flexibility significantly moderated the relationship between job stress and well-being, with the interaction term showing a significant effect. The findings underscore the importance of work schedule flexibility in mitigating the negative effects of job stress on the well-being of hospital pharmacists. Implementing policies that enhance work schedule flexibility may serve as an effective strategy to improve pharmacists’ well-being and job satisfaction. Further research is needed to explore these dynamics in healthcare settings and among diverse professional groups.
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spelling doaj-art-21d63e852a9f400aac1419a291709bec2025-08-20T03:45:25ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-10523-yEffect of work schedule flexibility as a moderator in the relationship between job stress and wellbeing in pharmacy practiceErum Rehman0Khalid Abdullah Alotaibi1Shazia Rehman2Mehmood Ahmad3Department of Mathematics, Nazarbayev UniversityCollege of Education, Department of Psychology, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hospital of Central South UniversityDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences LahoreAbstract Hospital pharmacists frequently face significant job stress, adversely impacting their well-being. Work schedule flexibility is often proposed as a potential buffer against job stress, yet its effectiveness among hospital pharmacists remains understudied. This study investigates the moderating effect of work schedule flexibility on the relationship between job stress and well-being among hospital pharmacists in Punjab, Pakistan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between September 2023 and January 2024, involving 414 pharmacists working in public hospitals in Punjab province. The study utilized standardized scales to measure well-being, stress levels, and work schedule flexibility among the participants. Bivariate correlation and multiple regression analyses examined the relationships and interaction effects among the study variables. Bivariate correlation analysis revealed a negative association between job stress and well-being, a positive association between work schedule flexibility and well-being, and a negative association between work schedule flexibility and job stress. Multiple regression analysis indicated that work schedule flexibility significantly moderated the relationship between job stress and well-being, with the interaction term showing a significant effect. The findings underscore the importance of work schedule flexibility in mitigating the negative effects of job stress on the well-being of hospital pharmacists. Implementing policies that enhance work schedule flexibility may serve as an effective strategy to improve pharmacists’ well-being and job satisfaction. Further research is needed to explore these dynamics in healthcare settings and among diverse professional groups.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10523-yJob stressHospitalWell-beingWork schedule flexibilityPharmacistPakistan
spellingShingle Erum Rehman
Khalid Abdullah Alotaibi
Shazia Rehman
Mehmood Ahmad
Effect of work schedule flexibility as a moderator in the relationship between job stress and wellbeing in pharmacy practice
Scientific Reports
Job stress
Hospital
Well-being
Work schedule flexibility
Pharmacist
Pakistan
title Effect of work schedule flexibility as a moderator in the relationship between job stress and wellbeing in pharmacy practice
title_full Effect of work schedule flexibility as a moderator in the relationship between job stress and wellbeing in pharmacy practice
title_fullStr Effect of work schedule flexibility as a moderator in the relationship between job stress and wellbeing in pharmacy practice
title_full_unstemmed Effect of work schedule flexibility as a moderator in the relationship between job stress and wellbeing in pharmacy practice
title_short Effect of work schedule flexibility as a moderator in the relationship between job stress and wellbeing in pharmacy practice
title_sort effect of work schedule flexibility as a moderator in the relationship between job stress and wellbeing in pharmacy practice
topic Job stress
Hospital
Well-being
Work schedule flexibility
Pharmacist
Pakistan
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10523-y
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AT shaziarehman effectofworkscheduleflexibilityasamoderatorintherelationshipbetweenjobstressandwellbeinginpharmacypractice
AT mehmoodahmad effectofworkscheduleflexibilityasamoderatorintherelationshipbetweenjobstressandwellbeinginpharmacypractice