The impact of collectivism orientation and gender identity on work-life balance and life satisfaction relationship: A UK –Spain comparison

Valero Pizarro, Irene; Arman, Gamze

Abstract

Difficulties in balancing work and non-work roles have a negative impact on an individual’s life satisfaction. This study investigates the relationship between work-life balance and life satisfaction across the United Kingdom and Spain. It also explores the moderating effects of individual orientations of collectivism and genderidentity. The used scales measured Work-life Balance (WLB), Life Satisfaction (LS), Collectivism vs. Individualism orientations,and Gender identity. Collectivism/Individualism was measured and analysed atindividual-level rather than at cultural-level. Data was collected from 52 British and 69 Spanish full-time employed women through an online survey. Correlational analyses andhierarchical multiple regression were conducted. Findings indicated that work-life balance had positive effects on life satisfaction across two different cultures. Those effects were stronger for British than Spanish women. Moderating effects were not found. Although, work-life balance, collectivism individual-orientation, and feminine identity predicted life satisfaction in the UK and only work-life balance predicted life satisfactionin Spain. This study extendsthe literature onwork-life balance and life satisfaction relationship and the influence of culture, whilstalso contributing to the under-researched area of the influence of gender identity on that relationship. The results might contribute to developingbetter strategies forpromoting work-life balance.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 4, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Feb 4, 2021
• Publication Date: Feb 4, 2021
• Deposit Date: Mar 3, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 3, 2021
• Journal: Journal of Management and Business Education
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 1
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.35564/jmbe.2021.0004
• Keywords: work-life balance, life satisfaction, influence of culture, gender identity, individual-level orientations of collectivism
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7164993