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Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) has been significant since ancient times, initially with animals, especially dogs, assisting in hunting and food gathering. Over time, this relationship evolved into domestication, companionship, and therapeutic roles in society. In urban areas, pet ownership is widespread, driven by companionship, therapeutic benefits, and social status. This study focuses on urban pet owners due to structured work environments, allowing a clear examination of the relationship between HAI, animal welfare, and work performance. The study explores HAI's dual impact on animal welfare and the work performance of dog, cat, and bird owners. Key factors include psychological, social, and physical closeness in HAI; animal hygiene, physical activity, and loneliness for welfare; and work performance for owners. Data were collected from 404 pet-owning employees in Istanbul, with statistical analyses confirming tool validity. Results reveal a significant positive correlation (r = 0.568) between HAI and animal welfare, and a positive but smaller correlation (r = 0.215) between HAI and work performance. Findings support HAI's role in enhancing well-being, suggesting pet-friendly policies in workplaces to maximize benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected employee satisfaction in Tourism and Hospitality industries? This paper uses a topic modelling approach to explore the pandemic effects utilizing a large sample (N = 733,746) of employee-generated online reviews. Comparing online employee feedback during the pandemic to the pre-pandemic period, the study indicates a shift in topics discussed, suggesting changes in employee satisfaction drivers. During the pandemic, there was a noticeable increase in positive discussions regarding work stress, customer behaviour, and managerial practices. Work-life balance and management behaviour were found to be more closely linked to increased dissatisfaction, whereas employee treatment, working environment, and company culture were associated with higher satisfaction levels. The present study contributes to the understanding of employee satisfaction in tourism and hospitality services as the first to measure the impact of COVID-19 by harnessing the power of online employee user-generated content providing practical implications for theory and employee practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policing in the South Pacific is influenced by a myriad of factors including cultural norms, historical legacies, socio-economic disparities, and geopolitical dynamics. Against this backdrop, law enforcement officers face multifaceted challenges in reconciling the demands of their profession with personal and familial obligations. This article discusses the challenges faced by police officers as they attempt to balance their professional and personal lives. Interviews were conducted with male (N = 50) and female (N = 50) constables from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) to gain insight into the challenges they face as RSIPF officers, the support available to them and the further resources they see as necessary to improve their work-life balance. Findings reveal a complex interplay of factors shaping officers’ work-life dynamics, including shift work schedules, high-pressure environments, community expectations, and the emotional toll of policing in small, tight-knit societies. It also highlights the significance of informal support networks, cultural values, and adaptive coping mechanisms in mediating the impact of work-related stressors on officers’ well-being. Notably, data suggest that RSIPF work-life balance, wellness and workplace structures are highly gendered. These findings offer insights that can inform the development of more effective support mechanisms and policies aimed at enhancing the holistic wellbeing of police officers. They further substantiate the need for greater formal support systems within the RSIPF to assist employees with managing their work-life balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore distal radius fracture (DRF) patients' and hand therapist/occupational therapist/physiotherapists' perceptions of integrating home and family work roles (HFWR) into rehabilitation. Methods: Eighteen patients and eleven therapists completed a semi-structured telephone interview three months after DRF. Reflexive thematic analysis of the interviews and triangulation of patients' and therapists' themes was performed. Results: The patient interview yielded five themes: the experience of rehabilitation; predetermined expectations of rehabilitation; incorporating HFWR into therapy sessions; varying patient needs for addressing HFWR; and determination to return to valued activities drives behavioral choices. The therapists' interview yielded five themes: The challenges in integrating HFWR into rehabilitation; HFWR addressed when brought up by a patient; working context and referral sources influence the rehabilitation plan; rehabilitation is not explicitly tailored according to sex and gender; and utilizing HFWR as a rehabilitation strategy is perceived beneficial. Conclusions: Patients have predetermined rehabilitation expectations primarily focused on mobility and strengthening exercises. Therapists and patients agree that adapting home and family work roles is beneficial but was not a major focus for either therapists' or patients' expectations during therapy. An unfavourable environment, patient budget constraints, and limited time were identified as challenges to integrating family roles. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Therapists should proactively discuss and address home and family work roles with patients with distal radius fractures when appropriate. Therapists should tailor rehabilitation plans according to the individual needs and expectations of the patients. Hospitals and clinics should create an environment conducive to addressing home and family work roles, and resources should be allocated for comprehensive rehabilitation programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moving away from an individual and pathological framework and instead drawing on a social-relational model of disability, this article examines the experiences of mothers with autistic children in navigating between caregiving and working life in China. Conducting narrative analysis of 14 in-depth interviews with mothers of autistic children, we argue that their decisions to make adjustments to work are situated in social and relational dynamics of disabled and gendered cultural ideologies, inaccessibility to healthcare, education, and social services, as well as filial familial relationship. As a result, they have to adjust their careers and personal life, such as resigning from previous work and becoming full-time mothers. Although these women constantly experienced a strong sense of loss in terms of their personal and social identity, some developed new perspectives seeing disability, normality, and the meaning of 'good mother' in the process of negotiating their work life and motherhood role. Points of Interests: Mothers of autistic children in China experience social and relational barriers in caregiving and working life. Mothers adjust to their careers and personal life by quitting their previous jobs and becoming full-time mothers, changing positions, or switching to part-time employment. The unavailability of healthcare and social service, as well as the discrimination of the education system against children with autism, significantly affect their mothers' work and family life. Autistic children encounter exclusion in the filial family in China. Grandparents and fathers of autistic children often refuse to participate in childcare arrangements. As a result, mothers had to bear the care responsibility alone. Some mothers described their personal journey of 'walking out'. They rejected the idea that autism is a form of abnormality needed to be cured. They also organized to advocate for social inclusion and policy changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Objective: The purposes of this study were to determine the presence of burnout in physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, examine differences in burnout between demographic groups, and explore circumstances that contribute to and alleviate burnout. Methods: A cross-sectional survey consisting of demographic questions, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and open-ended questions was conducted within two health systems. Descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests were used to analyze responses to close-ended questions and to examine differences between groups. Thematic analysis was used to analyze open-ended questions. Results: In total, 202 individuals participated in the study; 146 participants responded to at least one open-ended question (72.3%). Participants, regardless of demographic characteristic, demonstrated at least some degree of burnout on each subscale. Ten major themes emerged from analysis of circumstances that contribute to and alleviate burnout: 1) workload; 2) schedule; 3) work-life balance; 4) care continuum; 5) coping/morale; 6) team dynamics and resources; 7) psychological or emotional burden; 8) compensation and recognition; 9) physical therapy as a profession; and 10) COVID-19. Conclusion: Burnout is present within physical therapists regardless of demographic group. Understanding circumstances that contribute to and alleviate burnout is an important first step to develop and research strategies to address these circumstances to positively impact the provider, patient, and the healthcare system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is essential to understand sports coaches' experiences of psychological stress and psychological well-being (PWB) on a daily basis to better equip coaches to manage stress and improve well-being. Coaches make a vital contribution to sport and, given the potentially stressful nature of coaches' roles, are required to manage their own PWB and performance alongside that of the athletes with whom they work. To better understand how to support coaches, we explored coaches' experiences of stressors, primary appraisals, coping, and PWB using a close proximity longitudinal daily diary approach. Five sports coaches (one woman and four men) each completed an interval-contingent, daily diary over a 28-day period. The diary facilitated understanding of the coaches' experiences of their worlds and captured descriptions of the coaches' daily lives. Underpinned by our constructivist paradigm and following an abductive approach to data analysis, four experiences are presented (preparing for major events and championships, competition, admin and national governing body-related tasks, and work-life balance) using a trajectory approach. This method of data presentation allows understanding of each coach's journey through their experiences as they occurred over the 28-day period. The experiences are categorized into themes representing stressors, primary appraisals, coping, and PWB. Collectively, the findings highlight that coaches experienced certain stressors (e.g., athlete-related) on a regular basis, and that they appraised (e.g., as a challenge) and coped with these experiences in different ways (e.g., via information seeking). The findings also demonstrate that stress experiences influenced different elements of the coaches' PWB (e.g., relationships with others, personal growth) and that, occasionally, coaches may experience delayed or inaccessible appraisals of a stressor. Lay summary: Five sports coaches' experiences of psychological stress and psychological well-being are explored using close proximity daily diaries over a 28-day period. Four experiences (preparing for major events and championships, competition, admin and national governing body-related tasks, and work-life balance) are discussed to highlight how psychological stress influences coaches' psychological well-being. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Coaches and practitioners should work collaboratively to raise awareness of coaches' stressors, related primary appraisals, and their coping efforts. Self-awareness raising activities could supplement coaches' ongoing reflective practices and spotlight appraising and coping as mechanisms through which well-being can be facilitated or inhibited. Coaches and practitioners should work collaboratively to enhance coaches' social support networks. Doing so will help coaches to benefit from the stress buffering potential of an adequate social support network. Sport organizations and national governing bodies must remain mindful of ongoing and frequently occurring stressors (e.g., preparing for major events and championships) and implement interventions that can reduce the impact they have on coaches' psychological well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined dual-pathway (emotional exhaustion and intensive smartphone use in the evening for non-work purposes) through which high workload is related to work–life balance (WLB). The study equally tested whether family cohesion moderated these mediation effects among university academics from the South-eastern region of Nigeria. Results from a 3-wave survey data (N = 683) using PROCESS model 14 showed that high workload related negatively to WLB. High workload related positively to emotional exhaustion. Emotional exhaustion mediated the relationship between high workload and WLB. The results equally indicated that high workload related positively to intensive smartphone use in the evening for non-work purposes. Intensive smartphone use in the evening mediated the negative relationship between high workload and WLB. Family cohesion moderated the mediation effect of emotional exhaustion by buffering its influence on WLB but did not moderate the mediation effect between intensive smartphone use in the evening for non-work purposes and WLB. Our findings extend the understanding of how high workload impairs WLB via emotional exhaustion and intensive smartphone use in the evening and shed light on how to cope with high workload to achieve WLB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High child protection caseworker turnover diminishes care quality. While burnout is acknowledged, the impact of protective factors is unclear. This study examines caseworkers' burnout, individual resilience's protective role, and strategies for curbing turnover and preserving work-life balance. Results indicate that personal, work, and client-related subscales correlate highly. The moderating effect of resilience on burnout was significant yet marginal. Maintaining boundaries was the primary core theme reported in relation to strategies to maintain work-life balance. The results of this study highlight potentially modifiable factors likely to reduce caseworker turnover. Findings support the need for a collective re-evaluation of resilience as an individual responsibility to something that can be supported and fostered within the workplace for increasing employee retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of the study is to examine the work-life balance of married female nurses during the COVID period. Methodology: Psychotherapists believe that middle class women professionals are having more work-life imbalances and especially nursing profession is facing numerous challenges especially in this pandemic situation which are the key hurdles in the progress of nursing. As a result, the research was conducted with 200 respondents comprised of married women nurses from Western Districts of Tamil Nadu and both primary and secondary data are used. Questionnaire is the major data collection tool and a statistical model factor analysis has been used to find the significant variables in work life balance of the nurses. Findings: The results of the study revealed that flexible guidelines and procedures can be adopted by hospital management to ensure a smooth work life balance among the nurses. Novelty: Women nurses are striving to serve their best for the sake of the society people at large during COVID pandemic, relatedly their work life related problems have to be addressed and resolved to ensure their healthy life and continued service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Social Work is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of European Journal of Social Work is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study expanded the previous studies that revealed the relationship between job autonomy and employee engagement, and examined the mediating effect of work-life balance and the moderating effect of employee expertise in Chinese workplace. We collected research data using online survey on employees of Fortune 500 companies in China, and analysed the data. As a result of analysing the research data, we found that there was a mediating effect of work-life balance and a moderating effect of employee expertise. Based on these research results, we presented the implications of this study and discussed the limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study explored the impact of various leisure experiences—­awareness, boredom, challenge, and distress—on resilience, job satisfaction, and work enthusiasm among cooks in Turkey. Utilizing a quantitative research design, data were collected from 328 Turkish cooks through a structured survey. Path analysis revealed that boredom has a negative impact on resilience, whereas challenge has a positive influence. In turn, resilience significantly enhanced job satisfaction and work enthusiasm. The findings highlighted the nuanced roles of different leisure experiences in shaping resilience and work-related outcomes. This study underscored the importance of integrating engaging and challenging leisure activities into workplace wellness programs and vocational training to promote Turkish cooks well-being and productivity. It contributed to the theoretical understanding of leisure’s psychological benefits and offered practical strategies for enhancing resilience in Turkish culinary profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, university systems have maintained gender inequities that facilitate promotion and advancement for Caucasian men, while creating barriers to career advancement for women and marginalised groups. Significant obstacles have existed for faculty mothers who have attempted to fulfill responsibilities as both mother and worker, particularly amid the COVID-19 global pandemic. The purpose of this study is to explore how, during the health crisis, faculty mothers perceived their experiences to impact their research productivity. Based on demographic and open-ended questionnaire data from 134 study participants in the United States, the findings suggest that as supportive duties demanded participants' prompt attention, research was pushed to the side, resulting in perceived threats to faculty mothers' careers. Given the value many institutions place on publications in the hiring, tenure, and promotion process, decreased or stalled publications could result in career repercussions. Specifically, participants viewed losses in research productivity as hindering job mobility for adjuncts and instructors; creating barriers to tenure and promotion for tenure-track faculty; and stalling career advancement for tenured faculty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite professional commitment to wellness, supporting and addressing clinician mental health and professional sustainability has not been historically prioritized or well-understood within the occupational therapy profession. This paper discusses how to build a mentally strong, resilient, sustainable current and future occupational therapy workforce at the personal and systemwide levels to prioritize practitioner mental health. Specific barriers to and support for practitioner occupational balance and mental health as well as systemwide professional sustainability are discussed highlighting a Model of the Interplay of Occupational Balance and Professional Sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Instagram may be a novel context in which vocational identity construction occurs by posting content about one's profession. Yet, the content of such posts is unclear. Therefore, we performed a content analysis of 1,260 Instagram public feed posts that included a hashtag referring to gender-stereotypical professions (i.e. stereotypically male/female, gender-neutral) at multiple status levels (low, medium, high). We examined the posters' sex and ethnicity in relation to the profession in which they portrayed themselves and whether individual differences (i.e. sex, ethnicity, gender typicality/status of the job) were reflected in references to work values (i.e. qualities a job can offer). No differences were observed in the types of jobs in which individuals portrayed themselves according to sex and ethnicity. Differences in work value portrayals were exhibited for users' sex, ethnicity, gender typicality, and status of the job. Differences according to sex, gender typicality, and status of the job emerged with respect to the extent to which individuals' posts referred to work values being (dis)satisfied. Our findings highlighted that work value posts of certain social groups (i.e. sex, ethnicity) reflect work value differences in the real-world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Becoming a teacher is difficult, especially in times of a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated how preservice teachers (PSTs) experienced their resilience, and which factors influenced resilience during the pandemic. We were interested in the following factors: 1) personal resources such as motivation, efficacy and emotions, 2) contextual resources such as relationships and support of colleagues, 3) coping strategies such as problem solving and maintaining a work-life balance. A questionnaire with both open and closed questions was completed by 443 PSTs. Compared to previous studies that used the same instruments, PSTs showed lower scores on resilience and personal resources, comparable scores on contextual resources, and higher on coping strategies. A regression analysis showed that all factors except for self-efficacy were related to resilience. The open answers revealed different aspects influenced by the pandemic, such as conditions for teaching at school, interaction with pupils, study progress, support from supervisors in their school and the teacher education institute, and social support received from important others, such as family and friends. Furthermore, factors were mentioned that influenced PSTs resilience in both enhancing and diminishing ways. The findings provide more insight into how societal and environmental circumstances affect teacher resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "One Village One Dam (1V1D)" is a rainwater harvesting technology initiated by the Government of Ghana in 2017 to make water available all year round for animal watering, irrigation and domestic use in dryland areas in northern Ghana. However, scepticism about the potential of the 1V1D to stave off water stress and its associated impact on local livelihood activities is still prevalent in the country. This case study of Savelugu Municipality investigated the impact of the 1V1D on local livelihood activities and the work-life balance of women. Using qualitative data collection methods, 12 focus group discussions and seven key informant interviews were conducted in six communities in the municipality. The results showed that after >5 years of implementation, not much has been achieved for the intended purposes of the project, namely water for animal watering, irrigation and household consumption. Non-performance of the dams was attributed to engineering flaws like poor design and small size which often resulted in early dry out of the dams in the dry season. However, emerging activities like water commercialisation have provided a source of sustenance to water vendors. The services of the vendors save women time to fulfil the demands of work, family and personal life. Overall, the persistence of water stress in the study communities and activities of Fulani herdsmen, who allowed their cattle to pollute the dams' water, necessitates the government to address the design flaws through retrofitting the existing dams and mainstreaming future 1V1D projects to effectively tackle water stress in Ghana's dryland areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Job strain has been implicated in a variety of adverse health outcomes, particularly cardiometabolic and inflammatory diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain largely unknown. One possibility is that the maladaptive coping response to stress, (perseverative cognition (PC); the cognitive representation of past stressful events (rumination) or feared future events (worry)), either in work or more generally, mediates the relationship between job strain and physical disease. The aim of this study was thus to test the potential role of both general, and work- related PC as a mediating, or potentially moderating, mechanism between job strain and ill- health outcomes. Design & Measures: Using an online cross- sectional design, 650 full- time employees completed measures of job strain, general and work- related PC (rumination & worry) and health outcomes (burnout, somatization, health behaviours & sleep quality). Results: General and work- related worry and rumination significantly mediated, often independently, the relationship between job strain and burnout, somatization, and sleep quality. No significant mediation effects were observed for health behaviours and no type of PC (general or work- related) moderated job strain- health outcome relations. Conclusion: Both general and work- related worry and rumination are likely to play important, and partly independent, roles in understanding the adverse relationships between job strain and various health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to its positive impact on individual well-being, the concept of minimalism has garnered increasing attention from scholars worldwide. However, current research is primarily inferential and lacks empirical evidence. Additionally, studies conducted thus far have focused only on the general population in developed countries, presenting issues of incompleteness and generalizability. This study aimed to examine and validate scientific evidence of the positive impact of minimalism on individual well-being by developing a research model that explores the relationship between minimalist lifestyles and personal well-being. To this end, highly validated data from Chinese residents were analyzed using factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis. The findings indicate that Chinese residents' minimalist lifestyle is influenced by three key factors: clutter removal, cautious shopping, and a high-cycle life. Furthermore, minimalism was found to impact personal well-being positively, with clutter removal being the most significant contributing factor. These results suggest that minimalism can be an effective lifestyle choice that positively affects personal well-being and quality of life across different cultural and social contexts, albeit with variations in expression and concern. This research contributes to the Minimalist Well-being Model, which comprehensively explains how minimalism is defined in relation to well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a significant pressure on the nursing workforce, leading to an increased risk of infection and work-related issues impacting nurses' mental health. This review aims to explore the workplace challenges faced by older nurses and their impact on mental health. Method: This qualitative systematic review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Results: The review included 32 studies and identified three interconnected themes: heavy workload and nature of nursing, lack of recognition and feeling undervalued, and challenges in balancing personal life and work. These themes illustrated the complexity of the workplace challenges faced by older nurses. Discussion and conclusion: Workplace demands and shift work were common negative contributors to mental health and wellbeing. The physical and cognitive capacity of older nurses may diminish due to age-related changes, making the workload more challenging. Recognition and support from the organisation, especially from management and leadership, played a crucial role in nurses' resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a growing number of online nursing graduate degree programs to address the professional development needs of working nurses. Work-related antecedents of online student engagement in graduate nursing studies are under-explored in the literature. Aim: The aim of the study is to examine the relationship among demographic and work characteristics, work-life balance (WLB), and online student engagement (OSE) among registered nurses enrolled in online graduate studies. Methods: This study design is convergent-parallel mixed methods, utilizing a survey approach to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. The target population is students of an online Master of Arts in Nursing program at a university in Cabanatuan City, Philippines. Respondents were recruited via email. Google Forms were used for data collection. Non-parametric, inferential statistical tests were used to examine relationships among variables. Inductive qualitative content analysis was used to draw insights from open-ended responses. Results: A total of 173 graduate students responded to the survey. Quantitative results indicate high levels of WLB (Mdn = 4.8, IQR = 1.5) and OSE (Mdn = 3.7–4.0, IQR = 0.5–1.0). WLB was significantly lower among females (U = 3297.5, p < 0.01). Emotion OSE was significantly higher for respondents with managerial positions (U = 2987.5, p < 0.05). WLB had significant low to moderate positive correlations with the domains of OSE (r = 0.22 to 0.32, p < 0.01). Qualitative findings reveal various appraisals of online learning and factors influencing work-life-study balance, such as work, personal life, and school. Conclusion: Work-life balance facilitates better online student engagement among graduate nursing students and is influenced by time management, work (i.e. job environment and stressors), personal (i.e. home life and leisure activities), and university factors (i.e. curriculum, modality, and professors). Impact statement: Empirical evidence on the link between WLB and OSE can inform graduate nursing academics in developing initiatives to ensure the timely completion of the degree program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a refreshed surge of interest in alternative work schedules, such as the compressed workweek, as a tool to increase employer attractiveness, the question of the effects of such work arrangements recurs. In light of inconsistent research findings, we examined the effects of the implementation of a four-day compressed workweek on time pressure, fatigue, perceived productivity, and work-life balance within a construction company. Moreover, we investigated the effect of employee expectations. Drawing on longitudinal data (N = 247) and using Latent Change Score Modelling (LCSM), we found that work-life balance increased while fatigue and time pressure decreased. Three months after implementing a compressed work schedule, perceived productivity remained stable. These effects were contingent on individuals' expectations regarding the effect of the compressed schedule. The results highlight the importance of employee expectations in shaping the outcomes of the adoption of alternative work schedules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how employees make sense of their long work hours. We use a case study of an administrative unit at a public university in the United States, where expectations of working long hours are relatively low and employees have organizational resources to achieve work-life balance. Even so, we find that many employees still work more than expected and feel the need to work over the weekends. These employees overwhelmingly attribute their long hours to their personalities. Because many employees view their work as central to their existence, they invest their emotional energy and drive themselves to work longer hours than is expected from their supervisors and the institution. This individualized understanding that uses personality as a cultural frame persists and operates as a justification for long work hours even when other causes, such as staff shortage, were present. These findings imply that removing organizational expectations and rewards for long work hours alone is not enough for employees to achieve work-life balance because personal work ethics can still drive working long hours in the cultural context that puts high moral values on long work hours. In the conclusion, we discuss policies and cultural shifts needed to address these problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

U.S. Air Force cyber personnel were faced with changes in their workplace, fitness routines, and personal lives during the COVID19 pandemic. Adjusting to COVID-19-related requirements likely increased the stress of already stressful jobs for military members and their families, which could have resounding impacts on emotional, social, and physical well-being. Therefore, it is important to evaluate psychological health outcomes and self-perceived impacts of the changes presented to cyber personnel because of the COVID-19 pandemic. An online occupational health assessment that included demographics, standardized measures of burnout, psychological distress, and work role strain; health behaviors; and perceived impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic was administered to 1488 cyber personnel. Thirty-two negative themes and 13 positive themes were created from qualitative coding for "How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted you as an individual?" Of the themes created, 966 (68.5%) reported at least one negative impact and 440 (31.2%) reported at least one positive impact. Top-reported negative impacts were limited face-to-face interactions and loss of personal activities. Negative impacts were associated with negative psychological health outcomes (e.g., psychological distress, exhaustion, cynicism) and work role strain. Action-oriented recommendations are given in the event of another pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UK academics currently report increased workplace stress and workload, with decreased work-life balance, but often feel reluctant to disclose mental distress. We distributed an anonymous online qualitative survey to explore factors which lead academics to decide whether to disclose mental distress in the workplace. Thirty-one participants responded, providing qualitative data about institutional and psychosocial factors that informed academics' decision to disclose, supplemented by information on role position. Data was analysed thematically. Our study reports the individual struggles of academics as they manage their professional identity alongside the demands of the HEI workplace and explores the individual processes of identity conflict that leads to a re-construction of the professional identity after disclosing mental distress. Our findings reinforce the evidence that this decision occurs within the context of an increasingly business-focussed work culture of over-commitment and strain in this sector in which academics are made responsible for their own wellbeing. These findings lead us to recommend further research into disclosure using the lens of identity integration. We endorse important systemic changes by suggesting that universities need to consider factors contributing to poor mental wellbeing as structural issues, which require institutional action. Furthermore, we highlight the need for HEIs to value the hybrid identity of those who are both academics and experts-by-experience. Finally, we advocate for universities to adopt the social model of disability, which promotes inclusion and equality of opportunity for people who experience mental distress. The small study sample size makes the findings tentative, but they are nevertheless significant and intriguing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using contrapuntal analysis to explore interviews with 25 women in the U.S., we contribute to understandings of maternity leave as an ideologically laden and contested experience through multilevel (micro-meso-macro) themes within centripetal-dominant and centrifugal-marginalized discourses. The centripetal discourse of Maternity Leave as a Manageable Transition (MLMT) animated leaves as restful vacations, relational experiences, and predictable processes designed to facilitate workplace re-entry. In contrast, the centrifugal discourse of Maternity Leave as Maternal Experience (MLME) framed maternity leave from a maternal-centric perspective characterizing leaves as spaces of effortful recovery, isolation, and fluid/unpredictable processes. We contribute to relational dialectics theory (RDT) by exposing the complexities and controversies surrounding motherhood, mothers' wellbeing, and maternity leave in the United States with theoretical and practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Social Work is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Maintaining a pleasant work environment and striking a healthy work-life balance are critical for improving employee well-being and performance. The Job Stress and Health model sheds light on acute challenges that employees confront as a result of numerous work-related or external variables. The COVID-19 epidemic has resulted in abrupt changes in work habits and lifestyles, resulting in severe stress and disruptions to people's physical and mental health around the world. Purpose: During the pandemic, this study was undertaken to investigate employee work pattern choices, such as work from home, blended work, or work from the office. Methods: This study examined how work pattern decisions affected HEI employees' well-being during the COVID-19 epidemic using the Job Stress and Health model and an online survey. To investigate work model preferences and challenges, demographics, work patterns, and well-being indicators including sleep and performance were collected and evaluated using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study questionnaire was close-ended and prepared in English. Results: Even after the pandemic, a significant proportion of employees preferred the blended work paradigm, showing the long-term impact of the shift in work habits. Furthermore, the shift in work schedules has had an impact on employee well-being, particularly changes in sleep patterns. Discussion: Even though the employees of higher education are adaptable and accept a blended work model, it is important to note that work-related stress and inefficiency can arise depending on the resource requirements. Also, physical and mental health aspects while working remotely or in a blended model need consideration, especially when implemented in the long term. Translation to Health Education Practice: Understanding the effects of these work pattern choices on employee well-being is critical for organizations to adopt policies that foster a healthy work environment and assist employees in reaching optimal work-life balance. A AJHE Self-Study quiz is online for this article via the SHAPE America Online Institute (SAOI) . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In France, Mental Disorders (MD) are the second most common medical cause of unfitness-for-work notices. The main objective is to describe the MD causing permanent medically unfitness at the workstation. A cross-sectional multicenter survey was conducted among employees followed by 323 physicians from occupational health services of the South of France in 2017. The MD responsible for unfitness for the job were coded according to the ICD-10 nomenclature and their occupational origin was estimated by each physician. On 359,966 employees screened, 2,788 were unfitted. Among the 2,779 unfitness cases which were analysed, 985 were unfitted for MD. The incidence rate of unfitness for MD was 2.78 unfit per 1,000 employees followed. Representing 36.8% (985 cases) of all grounds for unfitness, MD were estimated to be work-related in 614 (63.6%) of cases. The main MD were 449 (45.6%) cases of major depressive episodes, 227 (23.0%) anxiety disorders and 131 (13.3%) recurrent depressive disorders. Their occupational origin was mentioned in 296 (67.3%), 168 (74.7%), 62 (49.6%) cases and the link with a Burnout (BO) in 166 (38.3%), 61 (27.9%) and 41 (34.2%) cases respectively among 364 all pathologies reported to a BO. Unfitness for MD was more common among women (ORa = 1.79 95% CI [1.50–2.13]), working in trade, transport, accommodation and catering (ORa = 1.47 95% CI [1.04–2.09]) and increase with age (ORa = 4.24 95% CI [2.73–6.60] for over 55). Major depressive episodes represent the MD most frequently responsible for unfitness and the most related to occupational origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Assertiveness Training Program seeks to cultivate a balanced and constructive approach to workplace communication, empowering participants with the skills needed to navigate conversations effectively. Recognizing the delicate equilibrium between Assertiveness and empathy, the program emphasizes the importance of expressing one's thoughts and needs assertively while fostering a collaborative and understanding atmosphere. An assessment is conducted for 50 employees on their Assertiveness Level and Leadership Competencies. The participants were asked to answer a questionnaire (Assertiveness and leadership competencies) before the beginning of the group training. Assertiveness. Tools: Rathus Assertiveness Schedule. Through a series of engaging workshops (8 Sessions) for employees with practical exercises, participants strike the right balance between Assertiveness and Active Listening, enabling them to communicate with confidence and receptivity. The program aims to equip individuals with tools to address conflict, provide constructive feedback, and build stronger professional relationships. By mastering the art of striking this balance, participants contribute to a workplace culture where open and respectful dialogue thrives, creating an environment conducive to innovation, teamwork, and overall organizational success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study aimed to explore and describe the role conflict that working South African mothers experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to their maternal and work roles and examine the mothers' descriptions and experiences of their individual and maternal identities. The phenomenon of work-life conflict is not new; however, the COVID-19 pandemic provided new research opportunities since the lockdown restrictions created unprecedented working and living circumstances within the home environment. Work-life conflict was explored within the context of motherhood and its subsequent role fulfilment, gaining a deeper understanding of the experience and integration of maternal and individual identities. Semi-structured interviews with nine mothers were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The analyses revealed that mothers experienced increased role conflict during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants emphasized that they experienced particular challenges, including social isolation, limited time for self-care, re-evaluations of work and maternal roles, and subsequent influences on their personal and maternal identities. This study provides insight into the complexities and nuanced experiences of mothers' work and family conflict within the unknowns and uncertainty of an overwhelming pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between work-life balance and burnout among emergency healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study which was conducted with 428 subjects between February and July 2021. A Descriptive Characteristics Form, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and the Work-Life Balance Scale (WLBS) were used to collect data. The findings of the study revealed that there was a statistically significant negative correlation between their total WLBS and MBI scores (P < 0.05). Participants' Work-Life Balance scores explained 28.5% of the variance in burnout levels (R2 = 0.285). Those who did not have to be away from their families during the pandemic had higher total WLBS scores than those who did. Those who received positive support from their families during the pandemic despite their heavy schedules were satisfied with their jobs and unit, and moreover had statistically higher total WLBS scores and statistically lower total MBI scores compared to the others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kaizen events are an important part of lean programmes. Traditionally, these events bring a small team to work together over a 3-to-5-day period with a facilitator. This paper explores how these events can be run remotely. We ask: What are the impacts and challenges posed by COVID-19 on kaizen events? What would you need to change in their design and deployment to run them successfully remotely? Could remote kaizens be the way forward for firms with advanced Lean in place? These RQs are investigated in a multi-method approach with multi-national construction technology group Hilti. We found, after readjustment, that it was possible to run successful kaizen events on a global basis with remote facilitation. The cost of running the events was lower due to the savings in travel, they provided a better work-life balance for facilitators, allowed for a more expert work teams although events did involve a greater preparation time. The cost-saving results were as good as or better than physical events. However, the events often felt worse for the participants raising questions about future success. Even so, within the advanced Lean Hilti organisations remote kaizen events will be the de facto new normal standard going forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Involvement is an empowering management technique whose positive effects on employees' wellbeing have been emphasized in scholarly literature. However, since it augments job demands, involvement might impair the individual ability to handle the work-life interplay. The article analyses involvement's implications on work-life balance in a sample of European public servants (n = 2,122), contemplating the mediating role of employee-manager exchanges and work engagement. Involvement undermined work-life balance. Enhanced employee-manager exchanges and increased work engagement triggered by involvement mediated this relationship, making sense of its positive implications on work-life balance. Tailored management initiatives are required to address involvement's side effects on work-life balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identity of women entrepreneurs illuminates discursive struggles given the masculine norms of entrepreneurship. Applying relational dialectics theory (RDT), this study explored competing discourses surrounding understudied Chinese women entrepreneurs and the interplay of their identification and masculine discourses. I conducted narrative interviews with 34 Chinese women. Contrapuntal analysis of this non-Western data however identified that discursive struggles happened when voicing/speaking/expressing was not prioritized. Hence, I turned to new materialist perspectives to (re)work discourses as boundary-making practices producing local things/beings-in-relations and agents as anyone/anything participating in the dynamism. In two themes as competing discourses (discourses of misalignment vs. legitimacy), I focused on local movements and interferences when/where women in their entrepreneurial becoming encountered various human and nonhuman agents, and therefore demonstrated how discursive struggles involved various bodies/things, more than just talk/voices. Ultimately, this study diffracted RDT by engaging with new materialisms and proposing a new uttered-embodied dimension of discursive struggles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Families with dual-earner parents have been increasing in recent decades, a trend that contributes to father involvement. Because both mothers and fathers face the challenge of conciliating their own and their partners' work, as well as their parental obligations, work – family conflict (WFC) may emerge. This study aims to examine how parents' WFC influences the perception of father involvement in childcare and explore the mediating role of coparenting among Portuguese parents using a dyadic approach. Working mothers and fathers (N = 268) of a child aged 2–6 years-old (Mage = 4.82; SD = 1.51; 53.1% boys) reported on WFC, coparenting, and father involvement. Significant actor effects were found for mothers' WFC and their perception of greater father involvement in direct care activities. A crossover effect uncovered how fathers' WFC influences mothers' perceptions of fathers' involvement in their child's direct care through cooperative coparenting. The findings underscore how WFC is transferred from work to the family, highlighting the importance of policies targeting work environments to better conciliate professional and parental roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify physiotherapy students' preferences about their prospective area of practice and the reasons for their choices. Tel-Aviv University physiotherapy students participated in a cross-sectional survey and three open-ended questions that comprise the qualitative component of the study. At the very beginning of their studies, and at the end of the first to fourth years, participants were asked about their area of preference, the factors that shaped their choice, and the reasons for prospective changes in their preference. In total, 289 students filled out the survey. Response rate was 68%. Interest in some areas of practice such as pediatrics remained stable throughout years of physiotherapy studies. In contrast, interest in other areas such as sports declined and interest in others such as rehabilitation increased. The open-ended questions yielded 1,616 codes sorted into five categories that shaped the students' preferences: "I/Me /My" the largest category, followed by "the physiotherapy studies program" and then the relational focused "physiotherapy practice." The number of codes for "working conditions" and "work-life balance" increased steeply with the progression of the studies and the age of the students. The choice for areas of practice of physiotherapy students vary during their professional formation. During their professional development, their preferences are shaped by their personal feelings, interest in and past experience with the specific areas of practice, as well as their practical exposure, experiences in practicums, and theoretical studies. Millennial physiotherapists prefer areas of practice in which personal as well as relational considerations are core. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to contribute to an analysis of the well-being of military personnel who are deployed on humanitarian aid missions, taking their work-family (personal life) boundary management into consideration by analyzing the relationship between their preferences and enacted boundaries and military personnel' well-being. Specifically, this study analyzed the boundary fit approach, positing that it is the adjustment between individuals' preferences and enacted boundaries that influences their well-being. Using a sample of 327 military personnel, boundary management profiles were performed, considering the fit between their segmentation preferences and enactment. Furthermore, the relationship between these profiles and the military personnel' well-being was established. The results indicated that misfit profiles were found where the soldiers enacted less segmentation than desired or, on the contrary, more integration than desired, and a profile with a fit between the work-family segmentation they desired and enacted. The military personnel in the fit profile had significantly higher levels of well-being (i.e.,less exhaustion and more work engagement) than those in the misfit profile, who enacted less segmentation than desired. The findings have implications for the design of boundary management literature and future military missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2004, California became the first state to require that employers provide paid family leave (PFL) to their employees. This paper examines the effect of California's PFL law on time spent caregiving to parents and to grandchildren by older adults aged 50–79. To identify the effect of the law, the paper uses the 1998–2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study and a difference-in-differences approach comparing outcomes in California to other states before and after the implementation of the law. Results suggest that the law induced a switch in caregiving behavior with older adults spending less time caring for grandchildren and more time helping parents. Focusing on women, results further suggest that PFL affected older adults both through their own leave-taking and through reallocations of their caregiving time in response to leave-taking by new parents. The findings motivate thinking more broadly when calculating the costs and benefits of PFL policies; to the extent that California's PFL law enabled older adults to provide more care for their parents they otherwise would not have received, such an outcome represents an indirect benefit of the policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unequal division of cognitive labor within households, and its potential association with mental load and stress, has gained substantial interest in recent public and scholarly discussions. We aim to deepen this debate theoretically and empirically. First, going beyond the question of whether the division of cognitive labor is gendered, we connect cognitive household labor with existing stress theories and ask whether men and women typically perform cognitive labor tasks that involve different levels of stress. We then discuss whether women perform these stressful tasks more often, making them more prone to higher levels of family–work conflict. Second, we test the association between the division of cognitive labor and family–work conflict empirically using large-scale survey data from 10 European countries within the Generations & Gender Programme (GGP). Results based on logistic regressions confirm that a high share of cognitive labor increases women's family–work conflict, but not men's. We discuss future directions in the conceptualization and measurement of cognitive labor in the household and its implications for mental load. Through its contributions, this paper lays the foundations for a comprehensive understanding of the implications of an unequal division of cognitive labor in the household for gender inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trainees may be interested in careers in aging but unfamiliar with career options, leading to a shortage in the geriatric workforce. In response to needs identified at a national geropsychology training conference, a multisite faculty group developed a six-session webinar series about careers in geropsychology, detailing career options in six unique settings. Each webinar session featured a moderated discussion with a panel of four professionals currently employed in the career of interest. The webinar was advertised to clinical and counseling psychology trainees with a potential interest in age-related careers, with evaluation of the series primarily including trainees from graduate programs, clinical internships, and postdoctoral fellowships. Participants rated their attitudes and beliefs about each career option at pre- and post-discussion. On average, each webinar session was attended by 48 individuals (SD = 12, range = 33–60). At baseline, attendees reported significantly more interest in careers in clinical practice compared to other careers, and interest in university settings increased from pre- to post-discussion. Across all six sessions, participants reported increased understanding of training experiences that would be helpful in pursuing that specific career. Findings point to the feasibility and utility of webinars for enhancing interest and confidence in pursuing careers in aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study we gathered data from a large group of employed adults (N = 710) to examine the degree to which participants experienced their work as unique combinations of decent and meaningful. We applied latent profile analysis (LPA) to construct specific profiles according to how strongly participants endorsed five components of decent work and meaningful work. Seven different profiles emerged from our analyses which were labeled as a) Only healthcare, b) Unfulfilling, c) Highly meaningless, d) Adequate safety and rest, e) Adequate, f) Fulfilling, and g) Absent healthcare. We examined group differences amongst the profiles in terms of hypothesized predictor (economic constraints, marginalization experiences) and outcome (work-family conflict, intentions to quit) variables. Mixed support was found for the hypotheses, and profiles where participants did or did not have healthcare access at work were particularly unique in comparison to other profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reviews extant work-life literature to identify person-centered variables reflective of the agentic approach in crafting a balance between work and personal life. 49 articles are selected following the systematic literature review paradigm. Qualitative analysis of the studies elicited individual strategies, competencies, resources, and other attributes employed in managing work and life. These are clustered into 9 higher-order themes, each discussed in detail. Each of these trainable attributes opens avenues for further theoretical development and empirical investigation by scholars. We call for operationalization of the framework for effective implementation at work and implore exploring ramifications of civility on work-life outcomes. This individual-focused branch of work-life interface research holds immense potential for theoretical development and managerial implications in devising employee-centered initiatives. We explicitly invite a scholarly debate for moving beyond 'balance' and embracing 'fulfillment' as a concept and other propositions to develop theoretical research on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic caused universities worldwide, including those in Sweden, to adopt online distance learning as the primary teaching approach. However, there is limited research on how larger environmental changes affect university students' occupational balance. In this study, 15 university students were interviewed, and their responses were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The findings suggest that the students had to take more responsibility for maintaining their occupational balance, as the pandemic and shift to online learning limited their social and physical environment and altered their daily activities and routines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study identified the key factors of spousal support that influence the outcomes and willingness of female knowledge workers to work from home (WFH). A questionnaire of 59 items was developed, covering basic personal information, spousal support, work perception, work-life balance, and willingness to WFH: 139 valid responses from female participants were collected and analysed. Exploratory factor analysis revealed six distinct factors of spousal support. Regression analysis found that personal-related emotional support, personal-related instrumental support, work-related emotional support, and work-related instrumental support demonstrated positive correlations with work perception and work-life balance, while family-related instrumental support positively correlated with work-life balance. Personal-related emotional support and personal-related instrumental support positively correlated with the willingness to WFH. Notably, personal-related emotional support exhibited the strongest correlation coefficients for willingness and outcomes. The findings could provide information on how a husband could improve his wife's well-being when WFH. Practitioner summary: A survey was conducted among female knowledge workers to examine the influence of different factors of spousal support on the outcomes and willingness of WFH. The results shed light on how husbands can improve their wives' well-being during WFH, offering practical guidance for supporting spouses in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UK Creative Industries provide meaningful employment to more than two million people (Creative Industries Council, 2022) with opportunities for self-actualisation and satisfaction beyond what many jobs can provide. This is so particularly within the television industry where, since 2015, new streaming services have massively expanded demand for content and consequently employment. Such opportunities, however, have been heavily dependent upon a freelance workforce, whose experience is often characterised by financial insecurity, poor work-life balance, and lack of coherent career structure or support, within a system that predicates against diversity. This article sets out to address some of these issues and their solutions by offering, and problematising, the concept of 'The Good Manager in TV'. In 2021 the authors followed-up an earlier survey of management practices in unscripted TV production across the UK with a series of in-depth interviews with individuals who, in another context, would be characterised as 'middle managers'. Our data suggests that the challenges faced by the would-be good manager in TV can seem overwhelming, evoking the predicament of Brecht's Good Person of Szechwan. Yet it also points to solutions to those challenges. This article reviews our findings in order to answer the following questions: What does it mean to be a good manager in the volatile, project-based, context of TV production? What are the challenges faced by those who aspire to fill the role? How can such challenges be addressed across this evolving creative industry? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social work doctoral programs help shape the future leaders of the profession, but the climate of doctoral programs may not be equally welcoming to all students. This study explores the perspectives of students who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) regarding their programs' diversity and inclusion and mentoring practices. The online survey of 183 social work doctoral students uses a mixed methods approach to compare perspectives of BIPOC students and White non-Hispanic students. The study found disparities in feeling safe and welcome and scholarly productivity, and highlights the importance of holistic mentoring, improved mentor training, and genuine allyship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of 24/7 library operations on the health and work-life balance of Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals in India. Using a mixed-method approach with 52 respondents, reveals significant physical and mental health issues, sleep disruptions, and dietary challenges. Qualitative insights highlight personal and professional hurdles, gender disparities, and concerns about workload and safety. The findings underscore the need for tailored support and infrastructure improvements in continuous library settings. The study contributes to understanding the multifaceted challenges faced by LIS professionals and provides recommendations to enhance overall well-being in 24/7 operational environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]