Skip to search boxSkip to navigationSkip to main content

The work-related quality of life scale for higher education employees

  • Julian A. Edwards
    ,
  • Darren Van Laar
    ,
  • Simon Easton
    ,
  • Gail Kinman
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Abstract

Previous research suggests that higher education employees experience comparatively high levels of job stress. A range of instruments, both generic and job‐specific, has been used to measure stressors and strains in this occupational context. The Work‐related Quality of Life (WRQoL) scale is a measure designed to capture perceptions of the working environment and employees’ responses to them. This study explores the factor structure of the WRQoL scale for higher education employees. Survey data were collected from workers in four higher education institutions in the UK (n = 2136). Confirmatory factor analysis methods were used to investigate the explanatory power of the scale using a six‐factor model (job and career satisfaction, general well‐being, home–work interface, stress at work, control at work and working conditions). A first‐order confirmatory factor analysis model fitted the data well, whilst a second‐order model produced an acceptable fit. Levels of WRQoL for each factor are consistent with those found in other studies of academic employees. Overall, higher education employees in the sample are dissatisfied with their jobs and careers, are generally dissatisfied with working conditions and control at work and report they are stressed at work. Results provide evidence to support the use of the WRQoL psychometric instrument as both a multidimensional and uni‐dimensional measure to assess the quality of working life of employees in higher education.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 207-219

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Quality in Higher Education (Volume 15, Issue 3)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 01/11/2009

Publication status

Published - 01/11/2009

ISSN

1353-8322

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/294078

Access to documents

Publication metrics