scholarly journals Self-efficacy and work engagement: test of a chain model

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 819-834 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Wen Chan ◽  
Thomas Kalliath ◽  
Paula Brough ◽  
Michael O’Driscoll ◽  
Oi-Ling Siu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Work Engagement ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Work And Family ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Family Demands

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating roles of work and family demands and work-life balance on the relationship between self-efficacy (to regulate work and life) and work engagement. Specifically, it seeks to explain how self-efficacy influences employees’ thought patterns and emotional reactions, which in turn enable them to cope with work and family demands, and ultimately achieve work-life balance and work engagement. Design/methodology/approach Structural equation modelling (SEM) of survey data obtained from a heterogeneous sample of 1,010 Australian employees is used to test the hypothesised chain mediation model. Findings The SEM results support the hypothesised model. Self-efficacy was significantly and negatively related to work and family demands, which in turn were negatively associated with work-life balance. Work-life balance, in turn, enabled employees to be engaged in their work. Research limitations/implications The findings support the key tenets of social cognitive theory and conservation of resources (COR) theory and demonstrate how self-efficacy can lead to work-life balance and engagement despite the presence of role demands. Study limitations (e.g. cross-sectional research design) and future research directions are discussed. Originality/value This study incorporates COR theory with social cognitive theory to improve understanding of how self-efficacy enhances work-life balance and work engagement through a self-fulfilling cycle in which employees achieve what they believe they can accomplish, and in the process, build other skills and personal resources to manage work and family challenges.

scholarly journals Navigating dual-careers: the challenge for professional couples

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy Scurry ◽  
Marilyn Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Work And Family ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Dual Career ◽  
Family Needs ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategic Approach ◽  
Dual Careers ◽  
Situational Constraints

PurposeDual-careers are an increasingly common typology among professionals yet very few studies have considered how two potentially competing career trajectories are managed in relation to the broader aspects of life, such as family and personal life. This article addresses the gap through an exploration of the strategies adopted by dual-career professional couples as they seek to navigate these challenges whilst satisfying individual and shared goals and aspirations.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured, face-to-face interviews were carried out with 18 couples (dyads) from a range of professional occupations. Interviews were conducted individually, and then responses analysed and compared for key themes.FindingsRather than focusing on how couples manage work–life balance on a day-today basis this study shows how couples incorporate a more strategic approach to dual-careers so that both careers are able to progress, albeit within situational constraints.Practical implicationsTo satisfy personal, business and economic performance goals, organisations and governments will need to find more creative ways to support employees as they seek to navigate careers while balancing the work and nonwork needs of themselves and their partner. The challenges faced by dual-career couples have implications for human resource managers as they seek to attract and retained talent within their organisations.Social implicationsDemographic and social changes at the household level will ultimately require changes at an organisational and broader societal level to meet the work and family needs of this growing cohort.Originality/valueRather than focusing on how couples manage work-life balance on a day-today basis this study shows how couples incorporate a more strategic approach to dual-careers so that both careers are able to progress, albeit within situational constraints.

Australian Muslim men balancing work, family and religion:a positive look at a negative issue

2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adem Sav ◽  
Neil Harris ◽  
Bernadette Sebar
Keyword(s):  
Work And Family ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Potential Conflict ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Muslim Men ◽  
Work Family ◽  
Work Life Conflict

Purpose – This study explores how Australian Muslim men cope with potential conflict and achieve feelings of balance between their work, family and religious roles. Design/methodology/approach – The study is guided by the interpretive paradigm and is qualitative. Data is collected from participants via semi-structured in-depth interviews (n=20) and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings – Personal coping strategies (e.g. making permanent changes and time management) seem more effective in coping with immediate conflict and achieving work-life balance as opposed to external ones (e.g. supervisor support). Although some of the strategies mirror existing research, their extent of use and reasons for usage by Muslim men are different. Muslim men use these strategies in a preventive manner to actively achieve work-life balance rather than just cope with episodic work-life conflict. Research limitations/implications – The study is conducted with a small sample and the findings may not be generalizable to non-practising Australian Muslim men. To date, research has not clearly articulated how people who do not experience work-life conflict, make decisions to achieve balance. This study has a positive look at a negative issue by indicating that workers can go beyond coping with conflict and explore avenues to achieve work-life balance. The findings underscore the importance of preventive coping in achieving work-life balance and caution researchers about investigating how people cope with immediate work-life conflict only. Originality/value – In addition to work and family roles, this study focuses on religious commitments, with religion being a largely overlooked concept within the work-family coping literature.

scholarly journals IMPACT OF ROLE OVERLOAD AND WORKING HOURS ON WORK-LIFE BALANCE IN SERVICE INDUSTRY

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayma Zia ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Service Industry ◽  
Graphical Representation ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Work And Family ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Role Overload ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Correlation And Regression Analysis ◽  
Family Demands

Purpose: Main purpose of this study is to determine the hindrances found in work-life balance among genders in Service Industry. Methodology/Sampling: Data is comprised of 250 samples out of which 10 were discarded due to provided wrong information however rest of 240 were used for the analysis out of which 120 are males and the rest 120 are females. To test the reliability of constructs SPSS Software version 21.0 is used and calculated through Cronbach Alpha. Frequency test, Cross-tabulation, Graphical representation, Correlation and Regression analysis were used for data analysis. Findings: Findings shows that the organizations used in the study did not give any support to work life balance idea. These organizations promote overtime and extended working hour culture. Even male employees are unable to meet their family demands due to late sittings and found carrying stress related diseases most commonly headaches. In contrast, female employees were found in better conditions regarding fulfilling their family commitments because they are not pressurized by their employers for late sittings. Practical Implications: This study is useful for the organizations that if they implement flexible hours' policy to maintain work and family life. It will be more beneficial to the employees and employers for the better results.

Let me go to the office! An investigation into the side effects of working from home on work-life balance

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 771-790
Author(s):  
Rocco Palumbo
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Private Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Working From Home ◽  
Home Based

PurposeThe disruptions brought by COVID-19 pandemic compelled a large part of public sector employees to remotely work from home. Home-based teleworking ensured the continuity of the provision of public services, reducing disruptions brought by the pandemic. However, little is known about the implications of telecommuting from home on the ability of remote employees to manage the work-life interplay. The article adopts a retrospective approach, investigating data provided by the sixth European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) to shed lights into this timely topic.Design/methodology/approachAn empirical, quantitative research design was crafted. On the one hand, the direct effects of telecommuting from home on work-life balance were investigated. On the other hand, work engagement and perceived work-related fatigue were included in the empirical analysis as mediating variables which intervene in the relationship between telecommuting from home and work-life balance.FindingsHome-based telecommuting negatively affected the work-life balance of public servants. Employees who remotely worked from home suffered from increased work-to-life and life-to-work conflicts. Telecommuting from home triggered greater work-related fatigue, which worsened the perceived work-life balance. Work engagement positively mediated the negative effects of working from home on work-life balance.Practical implicationsTelecommuting from home has side effects on the ability of remote workers to handle the interplay between work-related commitments and daily life activities. This comes from the overlapping between private life and work, which leads to greater contamination of personal concerns and work duties. Work engagement lessens the perceptions of work-life unbalance. The increased work-related fatigue triggered by remote working may produce a physical and emotional exhaustion of home-based teleworkers.Originality/valueThe article investigates the side effects of remotely working from home on work-life balance, stressing the mediating role of work engagement and work-related fatigue.

De werk-privé balans van gescheiden ouders : De rol van werkeisen, privé-eisen en hun combinatie

2021 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-90
Author(s):  
Arda van den Berg ◽  
Anne-Rigt Poortman
Keyword(s):  
Work And Family ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Work Demands ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Family Balance ◽  
Work Family Balance ◽  
Family Demands ◽  
Work Family ◽  
High Work

Abstract The work-family balance of divorced parents: The role of work demands, family demands and their interplayAfter a divorce, parents may face difficulties in combining work with the care for children. Few studies have examined the work-life balance of this particular group. Using data from 1.577 employed divorced fathers and 2.059 employed divorced mothers, we examined how work demands (long work hours, commuting times) and family demands (number and age of children, postdivorce residence arrangements) affected the work-family balance of divorced parents. High work demands lowered the work-life balance among both fathers and mothers. Greater family demands had a smaller impact than work demands and led to a worse work-life balance only for mothers. Family demands, however, became more important for fathers’ work-family balance when combined with high work demands. Such an interplay of work and family demands was also found for mothers: work demands had stronger effects in case of high family demands and vice versa.

Mentoring, research self-efficacy, work–life balance and psychological well-being of doctoral program students

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zain Haider ◽  
Rabia Dasti
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Doctoral Program ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Natural Sciences ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Path Model ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThe present correlational research study examined the theoretical and statistical relationship between mentoring, research self-efficacy, work–life balance and the psychological well-being of doctoral program students. The study highlights the positive role of mentoring for uplifting the eudemonic aspects of well-being of doctoral program students of natural sciences.Design/methodology/approachA purposive sample (N = 72) of natural sciences doctoral program students was selected from the Higher Education Commission recognized universities of Lahore and Sargodha. Participants' experiences regarding mentoring were operationalized utilizing the Mentorship Effectiveness Scale (Berk et al., 2005). Similarly, their levels of research self-efficacy, work–life balance and psychological well-being were operationalized via the Self-Efficacy in Research Measure (Phillips and Russell, 1994), Work–life Balance Scale (Brough et al., 2014) and Psychological Well-Being Scale (Ryff, 1989), respectively.FindingsResults indicated that mentoring, research self-efficacy, work–life balance and psychological well-being were significantly positively related to one another. The parallel mediation analysis through the process established the path model of mentoring and psychological well-being. The model highlights the importance of mentoring mechanisms in strengthening research self-efficacy and work–life balance and in turn enhancing the psychological well-being of doctoral program students.Originality/valueThis paper highlights the significance of mentoring for the psychological well-being of doctoral program students. It can guide policymakers and mentors to acknowledge and address the research-based needs of these students in terms of improved well-being and productivity.

scholarly journals Strengthening of work-life balance while working remotely in the context of COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Živilė Stankevičiūtė ◽  
Svetlana Kunskaja
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Work And Family ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Private Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Remote Work ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Work From Home ◽  
Manager Support ◽  
Family Demands

BACKGROUND: Recently, quite a number of employees have been asked to choose remote work or even have been forced into it as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Notwithstanding the benefits suggested by remote working, e.g. saving on commuting time and expenses working from home generates numerous challenges for employees, including the blurred line between the roles of working and private life. While, previous studies have demonstrated that work-life balance, which refers to the ability of every individual to coordinate work and family obligations successfully, has a significant impact on employee well-being and organisational performance, ways for maintaining the balance under crisis remain underexplored. OBJECTIVE: Trying to narrow the gap, the paper aims at revealing the antecedents of work-life balance while working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A quantitative survey has been conducted in Lithuania (pilot study). The data have been collected from the employees working only remotely. RESULTS: The results provided evidence that employees struggled with work-home balance while working remotely. In line with the results, work and family demands served as detrimental factors for work-home balance, while manager support, co-workers support, job autonomy, and job control increased work-home balance. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, the research results expand the knowledge on the antecedents of work-life balance in a crisis situation. Moreover, the findings have significant implications for employers demonstrating that organisations need to carefully plan and implement new strategies and practices for work-home balance improvement for the employees who work from home.

Supportive supervisor to curtail turnover intentions: do employee engagement and work–life balance play any role?

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raminderpreet Kaur ◽  
Gurpreet Randhawa
Keyword(s):  
Employee Engagement ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Turnover Intentions ◽  
Supervisor Support ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Personal Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceived Supervisor Support

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of employee engagement and work–life balance in perceived supervisor support and turnover intentions relationship.Design/methodology/approachThe perception of teachers on the constructs considered has been assessed by a survey using a structured questionnaire. Data were collected from the teachers of private schools of Punjab, India, and 375 were valid number of responses. Parallel multiple mediated regression was used to estimate the direct and indirect effects of perceived supervisor support on turnover intentions mediated through employee engagement and work–life balance.FindingsThe results reveal that the effect of perceived supervisor support on turnover intentions is indirect rather than direct. On the comparison of specific indirect effects, the results demonstrate that employee engagement and two dimensions of work–life balance (work interference with personal life and work–personal life enhancement) act as mediators in the perceived supervisor support and turnover intentions relationship.Practical implicationsSchool principals need to draft teacher-friendly policies for enhancing work–life balance and employee engagement so that teachers can feel satisfied with their work and can handle work and family demands. In this way, positive perceptions associated with high engagement and work–family balance can take place, which in turn can curtail the turnover intentions of teachers.Originality/valueThe use of employee engagement and work-life balance in the relationship of perceived supervisor support and turnover intentions is unprecedented. The study also considered three different dimensions of work–life balance and tested the model in an integrative manner. Since the study is based on an Indian sample, it also adds to growing literature on turnover intentions in nonwestern countries. The results are of great value to school managements, HR managers and policymakers who are seeking to develop practices that reduce employee turnover at workplaces.

scholarly journals The experiences of work-life balance, stress, and coping lifestyles of female professionals: insights from a developing country

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 999-1015
Author(s):  
Babatunde Akanji ◽  
Chima Mordi ◽  
Hakeem Adeniyi Ajonbadi
Keyword(s):  
Health Sector ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Stress And Coping ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Medical Doctors ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Family ◽  
And Coping

PurposeGiven the limiting conditions of the gender roles confronting professional working women and drawing on spillover theory, the purpose of this paper is to explore the experiences of work-life balance with an emphasis on the causes of the imbalances, perceived stress, and coping techniques experienced by female medical doctors in an African context – Nigeria, a geographical location that is considered under-researched.Design/methodology/approachThe qualitative data is based on one-to-one in-depth interviews with 52 Nigerian female medical doctors.FindingsBased on the findings of the thematic analysis, it is clear that time squeeze, as a well-known factor in the medical profession, exacerbates negative work-home interference. However, other themes, such as patriarchal proclivities and task-pay disparity, that affect female doctors but are rarely considered in studies on work-life balance also emerged as sources of stress and work-family conflicts, leaving these doctors to devise individual coping methods as mitigating strategies.Research limitations/implicationsThe study relies on a limited qualitative sample size, which makes the generalisation of findings difficult. However, the study contributes to the limited literature on the implications of stress and work-family incompatibilities facing women in a society that is not particularly egalitarian, with an extremely pronounced culture of masculine hegemony that is contrary to western cultures. The article unveils the socio-cultural difficulties of the work-life demands facing women specific to the Nigerian society and experienced with a different level of intensity.Originality/valueThe majority of the research on work-life balance has been undertaken in western countries and has focused on various professional groups and organisations, including the health sector. Nevertheless, work-life balance is a novel concept within the Nigerian work environment, where female medical doctors, as a professional group, are rarely studied. The article also provides valuable insights into the macro-contextual features influencing the work-life balance of Nigerian professional women.

COVID-19: prevalence of job-demands, stress, work–life difficulties and work–life balance among international business travelers

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vilmante Kumpikaite-Valiuniene ◽  
Luisa Helena Pinto ◽  
Tahir Gurbanov
Keyword(s):  
International Business ◽  
Job Demands ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Business Travel ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Travelers ◽  
Perceived Change ◽  
Stress Work

PurposeInternational business travelers (IBTs) face daily challenges pertaining to the frequency and duration of travel. Following the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the study aims to draw upon the job demands-resources (JD-R) model and the literature on work–life balance (WLB) to examine how this crisis have disrupted IBTs routines and the implications for their WLB.Design/methodology/approachData were collected in April 2020 with an online survey answered by 141 IBTs from different locations. The first set of analyses examined the perceived change in job-demands (i.e. business travel and workload) including stress and work–life difficulties following the outbreak of COVID-19. The second set of analyses tested the hypotheses that the perceived change in workload and stress predict IBTs' work–life difficulties, which, in turn, affect their WLB.FindingsThe results show that the decline in job-demands (i.e. business travel and workload) after the outbreak of COVID-19 was not enough to reduce IBTs' stress and ameliorate their work–life difficulties and WLB. Only respondents who experienced a decrease in workload, including less relational difficulties, reported a superior WLB.Originality/valueThe study widens the scope and relevance of global mobility studies in crisis settings by timely reporting the changes in job-demands, stress and work–life difficulties among IBTs following the outbreak of COVID-19. Additionally, the research extends the use of the JD-R model in the international context by advancing our knowledge of the interplay between contextual demands and job-demands in affecting IBTs' stress, work–life difficulties and WLB.

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