The direct and indirect influences of job demands, engagement and drive on work-life conflict and well-being

Type of content
Theses / Dissertations
Publisher's DOI/URI
Thesis discipline
Economics
Degree name
Masters of Commerce
Publisher
University of Canterbury. Department of Management
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
Date
2015
Authors
Hamilton Skurak, Henrieta
Abstract

In healthy organisations, employee well-being is coexistent with efficient and effective work organisations. Improving employee wellbeing is therefore of significant importance for organisational performance. This study draws on the Job Demands-Resources model which suggests that the balance between job demands and resources impacts on individual well-being. Using an on-line survey (N=162) this study investigated the direct and indirect relationships between job demands, engagement and drive on work-life conflict and well-being. In general, the findings of this study are consistent with the JD-R model; job demands predicted work-life conflict, while the strongest predictor of well-being was the job resource of work engagement. Further, once indirect relationships were considered, it was found that engagement, a construct generally associated with positive outcomes, and overtime hours lead to psychological detachment issues for employees; consequently contributing to their work-life conflict. In addition, work-life conflict was found to mediate the relationships between the job demands of external work pressures and drive and wellbeing, suggesting that being pressured to put one’s work before their other interests and having an excessive work-drive contribute to reduced employee well-being. The unique contribution of this study lies in the assertion that while engagement has positive influence on employee and organisational outcomes, it is important that organisations and individuals ensure that work does not cause a negative spillover into employees’ private life, enabling them to recover after work and be ready for the next day’s challenges. The findings are discussed in terms of their theoretical and practical implications.

Description
Citation
Keywords
job demands, engagement, drive, well-being, work-life conflict
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
Rights
Copyright Henrieta Hamilton Skurak