Navigating work-life boundaries in nursing academia: A nationwide survey exploring the relationship between work-life balance and psychological distress among nursing faculty
Bharat Pareek, Ramya K. Ravi, Sandhya Kaundal, Meenakshi Soni, Jaison Jacob, Anil Pareek, Daljit KaurBACKGROUND:
With technology bringing work anywhere and anytime, life balance has become a significant concern in all sectors, including higher education. Work-life balance (WLB) remains insufficiently studied within the context of professional health education, particularly in nursing academia. This study aimed to explore the existence of work-life balance and examine the relationships between work-life balance and psychological distress among nursing faculty members.
MATERIAL AND METHODS:
This nationwide online survey was conducted in June 2023, using a cross-sectional design. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 671 nursing faculty members from various nursing colleges in India. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information regarding work-life balance and indicators of psychological distress. The mean, median, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage were used to describe the variables. By contrast, the Chi-square test, Pearson correlation test, one-way ANOVA, and linear regression analysis were used as inferential statistics. Statistical significance was set at
RESULTS:
The results indicated that nursing faculty experienced a borderline work-life imbalance (mean ± SD, 11.39 ± 4.3% and mean%, 51.77%). Approximately 30.70% of them reported severe psychological distress, and a statistically significant association was observed between work-life imbalance and psychological distress (
CONCLUSION:
The findings contribute to the growing body of literature linking work-life balance and mental health, underscoring the need for effective interventions and policies within institutions to enhance faculty well-being.