A daily diary study of work-life balance in managers: utilizing a daily process model

Abstract

We extend the literature in relation to daily diary and managers’ wellbeing by unravelling how daily work and family factors influence managers’ wellbeing the following day. Four days’ diary data were collected from 131 managers. Family–work conflict from one day positively influenced job burnout in the following day, while autonomy satisfaction from one-day reduced burnout the following day. Family–work enrichment from one day positively influenced work engagement in the following day, as did needs satisfaction (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) and perceived autonomous support. Furthermore, daily burnout reduced work–life balance and this was fully mediated by daily work–family conflict. In addition, daily engagement increased work–life balance and this was partially mediated by daily work–family enrichment.

Keywords:

• Daily diary
• work–family balance
• burnout
• engagement