Abstract:
The job commitment of student counsellors is crucial in Tanzanian universities, as they play a vital role in
supporting students' academic, personal, and career development, addressing issues that can impact their
wellbeing and performance. This study aimed to investigate the impact of work-life conflict on job commitment
among student counsellors in higher education institutions in Tanzania. The study aimed to examine the
influence of work-to-family conflict, family-to-work conflict, and gender differences on job commitment among
student counsellors. The study employed an explanatory research design using a mixed-methods research
approach. In this study, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through a structured
questionnaire and an interview guide. The target population of 179 student counsellors was purposely
selected, resulting in a sample size of 83 respondents obtained through the Yamane Formula. Quantitative
data analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics, where Spearman correlation and regression
analysis were used to summarise, explore, and make inferences. Likewise, qualitative data were analysed
thematically to understand patterns and meanings within textual or observational data. The findings showed
a significant correlation between work-life conflict and all employee commitment factors. Furthermore, the
findings reveal that work-family conflict significantly contributed to employee commitment, with work-to-family
interference found to be higher than family-to-work conflict among student counsellors. Furthermore, based
on work-family role conflict, the results indicate a considerable difference in organisational commitment
between male and female respondents. Based on the study's findings, an organisational support program
should be developed and made available to all student counsellors to lessen the strain of role conflict between
work and family and to encourage their job commitment practically.
