Assessing Work–Life Balance in Malta and Italy: A Cross-Cultural Investigation Using Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling (ESEM)
Rossella Bottaro,1,* Katya De Giovanni,2,* Palmira Faraci1,* 1Psychometric Laboratory, Department of Human and Social Sciences, University Kore of Enna, Enna, Italy; 2Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Wellbeing – University of Malta, Msida, Malta&...
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Dove Medical Press
2025-08-01
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| author | Bottaro R De Giovanni K Faraci P |
| author_facet | Bottaro R De Giovanni K Faraci P |
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| description | Rossella Bottaro,1,* Katya De Giovanni,2,* Palmira Faraci1,* 1Psychometric Laboratory, Department of Human and Social Sciences, University Kore of Enna, Enna, Italy; 2Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Wellbeing – University of Malta, Msida, Malta*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Rossella Bottaro, Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Enna “Kore”, Cittadella Universitaria, Enna, 94100, Italy, Tel +39 0935 536536, Email rossella.bottaro1@gmail.com; rossella.bottaro@unikorestudent.itPurpose: Work-life balance (WLB) represents a well-established construct in several fields. However, the post-pandemic period has prompted substantial re-evaluations of the boundaries between professional and personal life among the general population, highlighting a critical need for renewed theoretical frameworks and empirical updates in this field. Our research focuses on the procedure of effectively assessing WLB in different cultural contexts, grounded in well-established theoretical foundations and involving the testing of measurement quality. Thus, the present cross-cultural study aimed to provide new evidence about the dimensionality, validity, reliability, and cultural invariance of the Work-Life Balance Scale and its practical impact on employee well-being.Participants and Methods: A sample of 362 employees (50% Maltese; 50% Italian), with a mean age of 43.36 (SD = 11.51) completed the WLBS in an online survey from March to April 2023. The cultural invariance was tested using the 13-model ESEM taxonomy of full measurement invariance. Moreover, through Network Analysis, the life satisfaction and optimism scales were administered to test the WLBS validity across countries.Results: Results showed ESEM model good fit (X2=127.609, df = 63, CFI = 0.963, TLI = 0.939, RMSEA = 0.053 [0.040– 0.066]) and less correlated latent factors than CFA. Tests of cultural invariance supported a weak invariance (ie, factor loadings and item uniqueness or factor variance/covariance matrix) across countries. Furthermore, the findings supported the validity and reliability of the scale.Conclusion: In conclusion, new evidence about the WLBS theoretical framework and dimensionality was provided by using the ESEM as a challenging psychometric approach. Results from this study also supported its psychometric features and the cross-cultural applicability of the WLBS in two different European countries. The practical recommendations for government policy were discussed.Keywords: exploratory structural equation modelling, work-life balance, cultural invariance |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bc447cf7e3254154bb5511ef8ce29136 |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
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| series | Psychology Research and Behavior Management |
| spelling | doaj-art-bc447cf7e3254154bb5511ef8ce291362025-08-20T03:59:17ZengDove Medical PressPsychology Research and Behavior Management1179-15782025-08-01Volume 18Issue 116371656105388Assessing Work–Life Balance in Malta and Italy: A Cross-Cultural Investigation Using Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling (ESEM)Bottaro R0De Giovanni K1Faraci P2Psychometrics Laboratory, Department of Human and Social ScienceDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Social WellbeingPsychometrics Laboratory, Department of Human and Social ScienceRossella Bottaro,1,* Katya De Giovanni,2,* Palmira Faraci1,* 1Psychometric Laboratory, Department of Human and Social Sciences, University Kore of Enna, Enna, Italy; 2Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Wellbeing – University of Malta, Msida, Malta*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Rossella Bottaro, Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Enna “Kore”, Cittadella Universitaria, Enna, 94100, Italy, Tel +39 0935 536536, Email rossella.bottaro1@gmail.com; rossella.bottaro@unikorestudent.itPurpose: Work-life balance (WLB) represents a well-established construct in several fields. However, the post-pandemic period has prompted substantial re-evaluations of the boundaries between professional and personal life among the general population, highlighting a critical need for renewed theoretical frameworks and empirical updates in this field. Our research focuses on the procedure of effectively assessing WLB in different cultural contexts, grounded in well-established theoretical foundations and involving the testing of measurement quality. Thus, the present cross-cultural study aimed to provide new evidence about the dimensionality, validity, reliability, and cultural invariance of the Work-Life Balance Scale and its practical impact on employee well-being.Participants and Methods: A sample of 362 employees (50% Maltese; 50% Italian), with a mean age of 43.36 (SD = 11.51) completed the WLBS in an online survey from March to April 2023. The cultural invariance was tested using the 13-model ESEM taxonomy of full measurement invariance. Moreover, through Network Analysis, the life satisfaction and optimism scales were administered to test the WLBS validity across countries.Results: Results showed ESEM model good fit (X2=127.609, df = 63, CFI = 0.963, TLI = 0.939, RMSEA = 0.053 [0.040– 0.066]) and less correlated latent factors than CFA. Tests of cultural invariance supported a weak invariance (ie, factor loadings and item uniqueness or factor variance/covariance matrix) across countries. Furthermore, the findings supported the validity and reliability of the scale.Conclusion: In conclusion, new evidence about the WLBS theoretical framework and dimensionality was provided by using the ESEM as a challenging psychometric approach. Results from this study also supported its psychometric features and the cross-cultural applicability of the WLBS in two different European countries. The practical recommendations for government policy were discussed.Keywords: exploratory structural equation modelling, work-life balance, cultural invariancehttps://www.dovepress.com/assessing-worklife-balance-in-malta-and-italy-a-cross-cultural-investi-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-PRBMExploratory Structural Equation ModellingWork-Life BalanceCultural Invariance. |
| spellingShingle | Bottaro R De Giovanni K Faraci P Assessing Work–Life Balance in Malta and Italy: A Cross-Cultural Investigation Using Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling (ESEM) Psychology Research and Behavior Management Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling Work-Life Balance Cultural Invariance. |
| title | Assessing Work–Life Balance in Malta and Italy: A Cross-Cultural Investigation Using Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling (ESEM) |
| title_full | Assessing Work–Life Balance in Malta and Italy: A Cross-Cultural Investigation Using Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling (ESEM) |
| title_fullStr | Assessing Work–Life Balance in Malta and Italy: A Cross-Cultural Investigation Using Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling (ESEM) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing Work–Life Balance in Malta and Italy: A Cross-Cultural Investigation Using Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling (ESEM) |
| title_short | Assessing Work–Life Balance in Malta and Italy: A Cross-Cultural Investigation Using Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling (ESEM) |
| title_sort | assessing work amp ndash life balance in malta and italy a cross cultural investigation using exploratory structural equation modelling esem |
| topic | Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling Work-Life Balance Cultural Invariance. |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/assessing-worklife-balance-in-malta-and-italy-a-cross-cultural-investi-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-PRBM |
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