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A life beyond work? job demands, work-life balance, and wellbeing in UK academics

  • Gail Kinman
    ,
  • Fiona Jones
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Abstract

Research findings from several countries suggest that academic work has become comparatively stressful, with potentially serious consequences for the workforce and the quality of higher education. This article reports the findings of a study that examined work demands, work-life balance and wellbeing in UK academic staff. Job demands and levels of psychological distress were high and working during evenings and weekends was commonplace. Most academics surveyed, however, were at least moderately satisfied with their jobs. Work-life balance was generally poor and most respondents wished for more separation between their work and home lives. Academics who reported more work-life conflict and perceived a greater discrepancy between their present and ideal levels of work-life integration tended to be less healthy, less satisfied with their jobs, and more likely to have seriously considered leaving academia. On the whole, academics that perceived more control over their work, more schedule flexibility and more support from their institutions had a better work-life balance. These factors, however, failed to moderate the relationship between work demands and perceptions of conflict between work and home.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 41-60

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment (Volume 17, Issue 1-2)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 01/01/2008

Publication status

Published - 01/01/2008

ISSN

1091-1359

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/294144
  • Scopus: 69849131787

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