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.

Work-family balance of female parliamentarians in Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ummu Markwei ◽  
Michael Kubi ◽  
Benedicta Quao ◽  
Esther Julia Attiogbe
Keyword(s):  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Political Careers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Policies ◽  
Family Balance ◽  
Healthy Work ◽  
Female Employees ◽  
Work Family

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the challenges female parliamentarians in Ghana face in their attempt to balance their professions and families. Design/methodology/approach This is a qualitative study which explores the nature of strain female MP’s in Ghana encounter in their struggle to achieve a work-life balance. Findings It is concluded that most female parliamentarians in Ghana go through tough times in trying to juggle career with family life. The study revealed that the MPs adopt strategies such as prioritizing roles, limiting official duties at home and using social support to help them cope with the pressures of their roles. The organizational policies put in place to aid female employees to achieve a healthy work-life balance did not yield much result for the participants in this study. Originality/value The originality of this paper lies in it being the first study that qualitatively explores the complex challenges female parliamentarians face in their political careers and family lives in Ghana.

Taming travel for work-life balance in global careers

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela Lirio
Keyword(s):  
Work Life ◽  
International Travel ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Select Group ◽  
Travel Decisions ◽  
Work Family ◽  
Global Work ◽  
Gen X

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand how global managers from the generation born 1965 to 1980 (“Generation X”) manage demands of international business travel with desires for family involvement. A portrait evolves of how travel within a global career might be optimized for both business and family life. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative methodology was used as little research has focussed on alternative forms of global work or work-family issues in a global context. The author conducted in-depth interviews with 25 Gen X global managers in dual-career families (“Global Gen Xers”) pursuing global careers from the USA and Canada. Findings – The author uncovered how Global Gen Xers experienced “work-life balance” through executing personal discretion over travel and substituting in technology. The construct of travel discretion reveals these approaches. Mutual flexibility on the part of global managers and organizations tamed the demanding nature of work spanning divergent locations and time zones. Research limitations/implications – The findings represent experiences from a self-select group of global Gen X managers interviewed at one point in their careers. The author did not obtain reflections from their families on work-family functioning. Practical implications – The findings encourage companies to foster flexibility among their global managers around travel decisions. The author can consider how and when international travel can be replaced through technology in order to control costs and sustain global workforces. Originality/value – This study provides one of the first examinations of work-life balance among younger global managers. It also highlights experiences of those not on expatriate assignments, but performing global work through international travel and technology.

scholarly journals The impacts of work-life-balance (WLB) challenges on social sustainability

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 868-888 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahman Mushfiqur ◽  
Chima Mordi ◽  
Emeka Smart Oruh ◽  
Uzoechi Nwagbara ◽  
Tonbara Mordi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Environment ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Social Sustainability ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Medical Doctors ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Stress Level

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the implications of work-life-balance (WLB) challenges for Nigerian female medical doctors. This study focusses on Nigeria, which its peculiar socio-cultural, institutional and professional realities constitute WLB as well as social sustainability (SS) challenge for female medical doctors. Design/methodology/approach Relying on qualitative, interpretivist approach and informed by institutional theory, this study explores how Nigeria’s institutional environment and workplace realities engender WLB challenges, which consequently impact SS for female doctors. In total, 43 semi-structured interviews and focus group session involving eight participants were utilised for empirical analysis. Findings The study reveals that factors such as work pressure, cultural expectations, unsupportive relationships, challenging work environment, gender role challenges, lack of voice/participation, and high stress level moderate the ability of female medical doctors to manage WLB and SS. It also identifies that socio-cultural and institutional demands on women show that these challenges, while common to female physicians in other countries, are different and more intense in Nigeria because of their unique professional, socio-cultural and institutional frameworks. Research limitations/implications The implications of the WLB and SS requires scholarship to deepen as well as extend knowledge on contextual disparities in understanding these concepts from developing countries perspective, which is understudied. Originality/value This study offers fresh insights into the WLB and SS concepts from the non-western context, such as Nigeria, highlighting the previously understudied challenges of WLB and SS and their implications for female doctors.

scholarly journals Contextualising work–life balance: a case of women of African origin in the UK

2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 133-153
Author(s):  
Loliya Agbani Akobo ◽  
Jim Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Career Advancement ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
African Origin ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Family ◽  
The Uk

Purpose The existing gender gap in the workplace, that affects job satisfaction and career advancement of women, creates a need to understand further the causes and effects of the gender gap phenomenon. Although, there are many challenges that affect women’s job satisfaction and advancement in the workplace, this paper aims to investigate work–life balance using multiple theoretical lenses. Design/methodology/approach In total, 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted with women from Nigeria and Ghana residing in the UK, they were selected using a purposive sampling method. Findings The findings show four main factors that explain the choices these women make in relation to work–family. These are cultural sensitivities, current phase in family and work–life, personality types and other influences such as policies and financial commitment. Results also show how these women make these work–family choices using networks and services. Practical implications The paper postulates the need for organisation’s to pay attention to the acculturation and enculturation of these women, which would indicate observing their cultural behaviour’s, values, knowledge and identities to understand how they integrate, assimilate and to also prevent separation and marginalisation. In addition, the use of (internal and external) networks as support systems for these women can create the opportunity for informal learning. Finally, organisation’s should create structure that support workplace learning and should include activities such as decision-making, communication, career advancement planning and flexible work patterns. Originality/value This study contributes to theory using multiple theories (work-family, gender inequality and Theories X and Y in explaining the work–family construct of women of African origin in the UK.

scholarly journals REALITIES OF WORK LIFE BALANCE IN NIGERIA: PERCEPTIONS OF ROLE CONFLICT AND COPING BELIEFS

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 248-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Babatunde Akanji
Keyword(s):  
Global Scale ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Role Conflicts ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Conflict Situations ◽  
Work Family ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Work Family Enrichment ◽  
Depth Interviews

The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions of Work-Life Balance (WLB) practices in a developing nation of Nigeria. Evidently, on the threshold of widened globalization propensities, work-life research is beginning to spread outside the western context. Thus, a qualitative approach was employed by conducting 61 in-depth interviews with Nigerian employees (41 women and 20 men) working in frontline employments in the banking, telecommunications and insurance sectors about their perceptions of WLB. The findings showed that though conflict situations existed more than work-family enrichment, but under different circumstances due to the long legacy of national challenges facing Nigeria. The apparent role conflicts have generated various coping strategies adapted by participants of study to moderate their perceived work-life conflict and this paper seeks to add to the compendium of WLB discourse on a global scale by examining key barriers detected to hinder its workable practices in Nigeria.

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 Exploring the implications of the influence of organisational culture on work-life balance practices

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 454-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toyin Ajibade Adisa ◽  
Chima Mordi ◽  
Ellis L.C. Osabutey
Keyword(s):  
Working Hours ◽  
Organisational Culture ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Medical Doctors ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Related

Purpose Whilst significant evidence of western work-life balance (WLB) challenges exists, studies that explore Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are scarce. The purpose of this paper is to explore how organisational culture in Nigerian medical organisations influences doctors’ WLB and examine the implications of supportive and unsupportive cultures on doctors’ WLB. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses qualitative data gleaned from semi-structured interviews of 60 medical doctors across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria in order to elicit WLB challenges within the context of organisational culture. Findings The findings show that organisational culture strongly influences employees’ abilities to use WLB policies. Unsupportive culture resulting from a lack of support from managers, supervisors, and colleagues together with long working hours influenced by shift work patterns, a required physical presence in the workplace, and organisational time expectations exacerbate the challenges that Nigerian medical doctors face in coping with work demands and non-work-related responsibilities. The findings emphasise how ICT and institutions also influence WLB. Originality/value The paper addresses the underresearched SSA context of WLB and emphasises how human resource management policies and practices are influenced by the complex interaction of organisational, cultural, and institutional settings.

Institutionalised patriarchy and work-life balance (WLB) challenges for female medical doctors: the case of Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Uzoechi Nwagbara
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Institutional Theory ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Male Dominance ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Medical Doctors ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Choices

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine how institutionalised patriarchy triggers work-life-balance (WLB) challenges for Nigerian female medical doctors. It is focused on Nigeria to understand how its unique institutional context poses WLB challenges.Design/methodology/approachRelying on exploratory qualitative approach based on 41 semi-structured interviews with female medical doctors in Nigeria and informed by institutional theory (IT), this study explores how patriarchal institutions create, maintain and transmit male dominance, exploitation and inequality in the family, workplace and larger society.FindingsThe findings of this study show that patriarchy exists not only in family but also in all structures and institutions that allow for control of women by men and further inequality and exploitation of women. It was also found that in contrast to research in the west, WLB challenges stemming from Nigeria's patriarchal institutions are significantly different because of the peculiar institutional frameworks framing them. Also, WLB challenges for female physicians while common to female doctors in western countries are more intense in developing countries, given their unique sociocultural and institutional realities.Research limitations/implicationsThe implications of this study are that WLB challenges of female doctors are not fundamentally driven by individual choices but by broader contextual issues, which create and sustain such challenges. Further studies can be undertaken in private hospitals including quantitative approaches.Originality/valueThis research thus contributes to both institutional theory and WLB discourse from the perspective of developing countries.

scholarly journals The costs of networking in nonwork domains: a resource-based perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 501-516
Author(s):  
Hans-Georg Wolff ◽  
Sowon Kim
Keyword(s):  
Family Conflict ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Work Family Conflict ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Family ◽  
Work Domain

PurposeWhile studies have established that networking is an investment in an individual's career that pays off, recent research has begun to examine the potential costs of networking. This study suggests that prior research is limited in scope, as it remains focused on the work domain. Drawing upon the work home resources model (Ten Brummelhuis and Bakker, 2012), the authors broaden this perspective and develop a framework of negative consequences in nonwork domains. The paper proposes that networking generates costs in nonwork domains, because it requires the investment of finite energy resources in the work domain, and people lack these resources in other domains.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses structural equation modeling of multisource data from N = 306 individuals and their partners to examine how networking affects two distinct nonwork outcomes: work–family conflict and work–life balance.FindingsAnalyses support the general framework: networking is related to time- and strain-based work–family conflict, and work time mediates the relationship between networking and these forms of conflict. Moreover, networking exhibits an inverted U-shaped relationship with work–life balance, indicating that excessive networking as well as a lack of networking decrease work–life balance.Originality/valueThis study adds to the emergent literature on the negative consequences of networking. The findings suggest that employees and organizations should adopt a broader and more balanced perspective on networking: one that takes the well-known benefits – but also potential costs in work and nonwork domains – into account.

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