work-family conflicts among female police officers: a qualitative study

Background and purpose: policing is a highly demanding profession, and for women, these demands are intensified by cultural expectations and dual family responsibilities. this study examined work–family conflicts among female police officers.materials and methods: this qualitative content analysis was conducted in 2024 with 15 female police officers in gilan province, iran, selected through purposive and snowball sampling. data were collected via semi-structured interviews, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed until saturation was reached. results: the study involved 15 married female police officers aged 25–51 years, with 2–25 years of service across diverse departments, such as administration, counseling, cultural affairs, and operational units. most participants (80%) had one or two children. thematic analysis identified four major themes, 15 subthemes, and 45 initial codes: parenting and family role strain, work interference with family life, coping strategies, and gendered and cultural constraints.conclusion: this study revealed that female police officers face considerable work–family conflicts shaped by psychological strain, parenting responsibilities, organizational barriers, and social pressures. while the findings highlight the importance of organizational support, family-friendly policies, and gender-sensitive interventions, the small sample, which consisted entirely of married individuals, limits generalizability. nevertheless, these insights provide valuable directions for enhancing both family stability and institutional efficiency in policing.