Beyond work and life: What role does time for oneself play in work-life balance?

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Research concerning Work-Life balance has focused primarily on a division between time devoted to work and social life; but in addition, individuals require time for themselves - they desire "me time." This study investigates the role of me time when considering more than two dimensions for theWork-Life balance model. By combining theoretical considerations regarding me time with an existing four-dimensional life-balance approach, the existence of a three-dimensional life-balance concept with factors for work time, social time, and me time was tested and confirmed. Secondly, the predictive effects of the life-balance concept on health were studied. The results showed that the three-dimensional life-balance model predicts more variance in health than does the two-dimensional approach that includes only the factors work and social time. Individuals who scored high on a self-reported life-balance scale also scored higher on selfreported health measures. Finally, the relationship between life balance and personal resources was investigated. Core self-evaluations and self-regulation revealed predictive effects on life balance. In line with theoretical expectations, individuals skilled in personal resources reported higher levels for life balance.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)166-177
Number of pages12
JournalZeitschrift fur Gesundheitspsychologie
Volume20
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 2012
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-1972-1567/work/141545666

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Core self-evaluations, Health, Life-balance concept, Me time, Personal resources, Self-regulation

Library keywords