Work-life balance mediating stress and quality of life in academics during COVID-19 in Malaysia
Background: Following the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, academicians from the universities in Malaysia needed to ensure that the quality-of-service delivery to the stakeholders is undisturbed by adopting new challenging no...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2024-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Public Health in Africa |
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| Online Access: | https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/562 |
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| author | Lwin M. Aye Jeremy Ern Hwei Tan Shamala Ramasamy |
| author_facet | Lwin M. Aye Jeremy Ern Hwei Tan Shamala Ramasamy |
| author_sort | Lwin M. Aye |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Following the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, academicians from the universities in Malaysia needed to ensure that the quality-of-service delivery to the stakeholders is undisturbed by adopting new challenging norms. This compromises the work-life balance (WLB), causes more stress and potentially affects their quality of life (QoL).
Aim: This study investigates how perceived stress (PS) impacts the QoL of Malaysian academicians during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the mediating role of WLB.
Setting: Academics working in Malaysia during COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: A cross-sectional study, using a voluntary response sampling method, was conducted among 417 academicians from universities in Malaysia in September 2021. A self-reported online questionnaire, measuring PS, WLB and QoL, was distributed.
Results: The QoL scored a mean of 50 (standard deviation [s.d.] = 9.84), PS scored a mean of 24.26 (s.d. = 8.19) and WLB had a mean score of 51.12 (s.d. = 18.73). Work-life balance was a significant mediator of PS and QoL (β = –0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] = –0.52 to –0.35, p = 0.0001). Perceived stress was a significant predictor of WLB (β = 1.62, p = 0.0001).
Conclusion: Institutions should consider implementing flexible working arrangements, and providing workshops on crisis management, time management, and resilience. Stress coping methods are recommended for enhancing WLB among academicians.
Contribution: This study contributes to the pool of evidence to support intervention strategies and policy recommendations aimed to enhance well-being. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e35ccde11c1e437d942e7e882ab138e9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2038-9922 2038-9930 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-08-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Public Health in Africa |
| spelling | doaj-art-e35ccde11c1e437d942e7e882ab138e92025-08-20T03:48:52ZengAOSISJournal of Public Health in Africa2038-99222038-99302024-08-01151e1e610.4102/jphia.v15i1.562443Work-life balance mediating stress and quality of life in academics during COVID-19 in MalaysiaLwin M. Aye0Jeremy Ern Hwei Tan1Shamala Ramasamy2Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala LumpurSchool of Postgraduate Studies, International Medical University, Kuala LumpurDepartment of Psychology, School of Psychology and Social Sciences, International Medical University, Kuala LumpurBackground: Following the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, academicians from the universities in Malaysia needed to ensure that the quality-of-service delivery to the stakeholders is undisturbed by adopting new challenging norms. This compromises the work-life balance (WLB), causes more stress and potentially affects their quality of life (QoL). Aim: This study investigates how perceived stress (PS) impacts the QoL of Malaysian academicians during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the mediating role of WLB. Setting: Academics working in Malaysia during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study, using a voluntary response sampling method, was conducted among 417 academicians from universities in Malaysia in September 2021. A self-reported online questionnaire, measuring PS, WLB and QoL, was distributed. Results: The QoL scored a mean of 50 (standard deviation [s.d.] = 9.84), PS scored a mean of 24.26 (s.d. = 8.19) and WLB had a mean score of 51.12 (s.d. = 18.73). Work-life balance was a significant mediator of PS and QoL (β = –0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] = –0.52 to –0.35, p = 0.0001). Perceived stress was a significant predictor of WLB (β = 1.62, p = 0.0001). Conclusion: Institutions should consider implementing flexible working arrangements, and providing workshops on crisis management, time management, and resilience. Stress coping methods are recommended for enhancing WLB among academicians. Contribution: This study contributes to the pool of evidence to support intervention strategies and policy recommendations aimed to enhance well-being.https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/562perceived stresswork-life balancequality of lifeacademicianscovid-19 pandemicmalaysia |
| spellingShingle | Lwin M. Aye Jeremy Ern Hwei Tan Shamala Ramasamy Work-life balance mediating stress and quality of life in academics during COVID-19 in Malaysia Journal of Public Health in Africa perceived stress work-life balance quality of life academicians covid-19 pandemic malaysia |
| title | Work-life balance mediating stress and quality of life in academics during COVID-19 in Malaysia |
| title_full | Work-life balance mediating stress and quality of life in academics during COVID-19 in Malaysia |
| title_fullStr | Work-life balance mediating stress and quality of life in academics during COVID-19 in Malaysia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Work-life balance mediating stress and quality of life in academics during COVID-19 in Malaysia |
| title_short | Work-life balance mediating stress and quality of life in academics during COVID-19 in Malaysia |
| title_sort | work life balance mediating stress and quality of life in academics during covid 19 in malaysia |
| topic | perceived stress work-life balance quality of life academicians covid-19 pandemic malaysia |
| url | https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/562 |
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