Psychosocial hazards and work-life balance: the role of workplace conflict, rivalry, and harassment in Latvia

BackgroundEven though the link between the psychosocial work environment and work-life balance (WLB) has been thoroughly researched, there is limited evidence evaluating the impact of workplace violence, sexual harassment, conflicts, and rivalry on WLB.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted am...

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Main Authors: Diāna Inga Paegle, Svetlana Lakiša, Linda Matisāne, Monta Matisāne, Linda Paegle, Kristīne Mārtinsone, Daiga Kamerāde, Valentīna Krūmiņa, Elīna Akmane, Amanda Ķule, Ivars Vanadziņš
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1494288/full
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author Diāna Inga Paegle
Svetlana Lakiša
Linda Matisāne
Monta Matisāne
Linda Paegle
Kristīne Mārtinsone
Daiga Kamerāde
Daiga Kamerāde
Valentīna Krūmiņa
Elīna Akmane
Amanda Ķule
Ivars Vanadziņš
author_facet Diāna Inga Paegle
Svetlana Lakiša
Linda Matisāne
Monta Matisāne
Linda Paegle
Kristīne Mārtinsone
Daiga Kamerāde
Daiga Kamerāde
Valentīna Krūmiņa
Elīna Akmane
Amanda Ķule
Ivars Vanadziņš
author_sort Diāna Inga Paegle
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundEven though the link between the psychosocial work environment and work-life balance (WLB) has been thoroughly researched, there is limited evidence evaluating the impact of workplace violence, sexual harassment, conflicts, and rivalry on WLB.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 2,471 respondents in Latvia from December 20, 2021, to July 14, 2022. WLB was measured through a survey question assessing the frequency of work-life imbalance, with responses categorized into dichotomous variables. The study evaluated the association between the selected workplace psychosocial hazards (conflicts, rivalry, psychological abuse, physical abuse, and sexual harassment), work characteristics, socio-demographic factors, and WLB by using binomial logistic regression.ResultsOur study reveals a significant lack of WLB among Latvian employees. A striking one-third of the respondents (30.9%, n = 762) reported experiencing this imbalance. The odds of WLB decrease with age, with the youngest age group having twice the odds compared to the oldest age group. Lower education levels and lower income groups also show significantly lower odds of WLB. Notably, those who have experienced selected workplace psychosocial hazards, such as sexual harassment or psychological abuse, have five- and three-times higher odds of work-life imbalance (aOR = 4.90 with 95% CI 2.06–11.67 and aOR = 3.47 with 95% CI 2.75–4.35, respectively). All types of conflicts at work significantly increase the odds of a lack of WLB. Our findings also indicate that WLB varies depending on various work characteristics, such as job position, work sector, company size, length of service, and remote or on-site work.ConclusionOur study highlights the importance of addressing WLB in the context of workplace conflicts, rivalry, violence, and harassment. It provides indirect evidence favoring leadership quality and manager training instead of employee training in diminishing psychosocial hazards. Practical implications include prioritizing leadership development programs focusing on conflict resolution and fostering a supportive organizational culture to improve employee WLB.
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spelling doaj-art-eaa6959deffb4e59a6042992d995ca152025-08-20T03:00:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-02-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14942881494288Psychosocial hazards and work-life balance: the role of workplace conflict, rivalry, and harassment in LatviaDiāna Inga Paegle0Svetlana Lakiša1Linda Matisāne2Monta Matisāne3Linda Paegle4Kristīne Mārtinsone5Daiga Kamerāde6Daiga Kamerāde7Valentīna Krūmiņa8Elīna Akmane9Amanda Ķule10Ivars Vanadziņš11Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, LatviaInstitute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, LatviaInstitute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, LatviaInstitute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, LatviaInstitute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, LatviaDepartment of Health Psychology and Pedagogy, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, LatviaDepartment of Health Psychology and Pedagogy, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, LatviaSchool of Health and Society, University of Salford, Salford, United KingdomDepartment of Health Psychology and Pedagogy, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, LatviaDepartment of Health Psychology and Pedagogy, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, LatviaDepartment of Health Psychology and Pedagogy, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, LatviaInstitute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, LatviaBackgroundEven though the link between the psychosocial work environment and work-life balance (WLB) has been thoroughly researched, there is limited evidence evaluating the impact of workplace violence, sexual harassment, conflicts, and rivalry on WLB.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 2,471 respondents in Latvia from December 20, 2021, to July 14, 2022. WLB was measured through a survey question assessing the frequency of work-life imbalance, with responses categorized into dichotomous variables. The study evaluated the association between the selected workplace psychosocial hazards (conflicts, rivalry, psychological abuse, physical abuse, and sexual harassment), work characteristics, socio-demographic factors, and WLB by using binomial logistic regression.ResultsOur study reveals a significant lack of WLB among Latvian employees. A striking one-third of the respondents (30.9%, n = 762) reported experiencing this imbalance. The odds of WLB decrease with age, with the youngest age group having twice the odds compared to the oldest age group. Lower education levels and lower income groups also show significantly lower odds of WLB. Notably, those who have experienced selected workplace psychosocial hazards, such as sexual harassment or psychological abuse, have five- and three-times higher odds of work-life imbalance (aOR = 4.90 with 95% CI 2.06–11.67 and aOR = 3.47 with 95% CI 2.75–4.35, respectively). All types of conflicts at work significantly increase the odds of a lack of WLB. Our findings also indicate that WLB varies depending on various work characteristics, such as job position, work sector, company size, length of service, and remote or on-site work.ConclusionOur study highlights the importance of addressing WLB in the context of workplace conflicts, rivalry, violence, and harassment. It provides indirect evidence favoring leadership quality and manager training instead of employee training in diminishing psychosocial hazards. Practical implications include prioritizing leadership development programs focusing on conflict resolution and fostering a supportive organizational culture to improve employee WLB.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1494288/fullwork-life balancepsychosocial hazardsworkplace conflictssexual harassmentworkplace violencerivalry
spellingShingle Diāna Inga Paegle
Svetlana Lakiša
Linda Matisāne
Monta Matisāne
Linda Paegle
Kristīne Mārtinsone
Daiga Kamerāde
Daiga Kamerāde
Valentīna Krūmiņa
Elīna Akmane
Amanda Ķule
Ivars Vanadziņš
Psychosocial hazards and work-life balance: the role of workplace conflict, rivalry, and harassment in Latvia
Frontiers in Psychology
work-life balance
psychosocial hazards
workplace conflicts
sexual harassment
workplace violence
rivalry
title Psychosocial hazards and work-life balance: the role of workplace conflict, rivalry, and harassment in Latvia
title_full Psychosocial hazards and work-life balance: the role of workplace conflict, rivalry, and harassment in Latvia
title_fullStr Psychosocial hazards and work-life balance: the role of workplace conflict, rivalry, and harassment in Latvia
title_full_unstemmed Psychosocial hazards and work-life balance: the role of workplace conflict, rivalry, and harassment in Latvia
title_short Psychosocial hazards and work-life balance: the role of workplace conflict, rivalry, and harassment in Latvia
title_sort psychosocial hazards and work life balance the role of workplace conflict rivalry and harassment in latvia
topic work-life balance
psychosocial hazards
workplace conflicts
sexual harassment
workplace violence
rivalry
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1494288/full
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