Page 98 - IJPS-11-1

International Journal of

Population Studies

RESEARCH ARTICLE
Should women in logistics stay or switch? An

application of the moderating effect of work-
life balance in the self-determination theory to

Malaysian young women

Syaza Fatimah Sukri , Nurul Haqimin Mohd Salleh , Jagan Jeevan ,
1
1
1
2
4
Serge Gabarre , Jassim Ahmad Al-Gasawneh , and Abdul Hafaz Ngah *
3
1 Faculty of Maritime Management, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu,
Malaysia
2 College of Arts and Sciences, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
3 Department of Marketing, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan
4 Department of Marketing, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

Abstract

*Corresponding author: The transport and logistics sector is described as non-traditional for women
Abdul Hafaz Ngah because the industry mostly employs men and the tasks undertaken are viewed as
(hafaz.ngah@umt.edu.my)
masculine. Therefore, the difficulties that women face when working in the transport
Citation: Sukri, S.F., and logistics sector are recognized as different from women working in traditional
Salleh, N.H.M., Jeevan, J.,
Gabarre, S., Al-Gasawneh, J.A. & areas. Women continue to be under-represented, especially in the transport and
Ngah, A.H. (2025). Should women logistics sector. Inequity and career barriers continue to be an issue within this
in logistics stay or switch? An sector. A lack of interest toward the issue of inequality of genders in the logistics
application of the moderating effect
of work-life balance in the self- industry in Malaysia will further worsen the disinterest in the issue. The challenges
determination theory to Malaysian faced by women in the logistics industry are framed by the community which sees
young women. International Journal the industry as not belonging to women. However, the number of women involved
of Population Studies, 11(1): 92-106.
https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.1700 in this industry increases on a yearly basis. Despite the issue of work-life balance
due to round the clock working conditions, women remain in this challenging
Received: August 28, 2023 industry. Hence, to address this issue, the authors unearth the factors influencing
1st revised: September 14, 2023 the intention to stay among women in the logistics industry by extending the
2nd revised: October 25, 2023 self-determination theory with job satisfaction and family supervisor supportive
behavior as additional predictors, and work-life balance as a moderator. By adapting
Accepted: November 9, 2023 a purposive sampling method, a total of 248 usable questionnaires were gathered
Published Online: February 16, from women in the logistics industry in Malaysia. The findings indicate that extrinsic
2024 motivation, intrinsic motivation, job satisfaction, and family supportive supervisory
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). behavior have a positive relationship with the intention to stay in the logistics
This is an Open-Access article industry. Furthermore, work-life balance moderates the relationship between job
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution satisfaction and extrinsic motivation toward the intention to commit to the logistic
License, permitting distribution, industry. The present study provides a foundation for human resource departments
and reproduction in any medium, to reduce the prevalence of retention issues and decrease the number of talented
provided the original work is
properly cited. employees who leave their work, especially women in the logistics field.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with Keywords: Women in logistics; Intention to stay; Self-determinant theory; Work-life
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional balance
affiliations.

Volume 11 Issue 1 (2025) 92 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.1700