The part-time student role: implications for the emotional experience of managing multiple roles amongst Hong Kong public health nurses

The study investigated the contribution of the added part-time student role on the emotional experience of managing multiple roles of Hong Kong public health nurses (PHNs) who have children by comparing PHNs with and without the part-time student role. The research design employed the experience sampling method. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 20 subjects of which nine were undertaking part-time degree programmes. A watch was worn that gave a signal at six random times each day for 7 days to complete an experience sampling diary. PHNs on average responded to 34 signals (80%) and therefore completed 34 diaries, which collected data on work, college-work and family juggling and their effects on mood states. Results indicate that PHNs with an added part-time student role, although having fewer juggling occasions and higher emotional spouse support, had fewer family-related activities as well as a lower positive effect and a higher negative effect than PHNs without this role. These results suggest that taking up an added part-time student role creates additional role strain to nurses with children, and lend support to the argument that the stress of managing multiple roles is greatest and benefits least when work and non-work role responsibilities are both heavy.