Strategies for work–family balance in a South African context

ABSTRACT

Finding and maintaining work–family balance has become an increasingly difficult challenge for South African families due to various factors, including economic, political, social and cultural changes that can impact negatively on family well-being. While pathways and strategies for work–family balance have been identified in other contexts, there is little available research on the topic in a South African context. Considering the knowledge that South African social workers have in this regard as a result of their training, qualifications and role in the South African context, South African social workers were selected as participants. The aim of this study was therefore to explore and describe, from the perspective of a group of South African social workers, strategies for work–family balance that can potentially contribute to family well-being in a South African context. A narrative inquiry research design was implemented. Thirteen female social workers between the ages of 23 and 46 who work in different social work contexts across South Africa were recruited by means of purposive and snowball/network sampling. Data were collected by means of written narratives and analysed by thematic analysis. The findings identify the following strategies: Setting clear boundaries, open communication in work and family domains, strengthening personal and professional support systems, planning, time management and prioritising, self-care, reasonable work environment and continuous personal and family assessment. While the findings share similarities with work–family balance strategies identified in other contexts, this study’s significance lies in the fact that it identifies strategies specifically for the South African context and that it does so from the perspective of South African social workers.

RÉSUMÉ

Atteindre et maintenir un équilibre travail-famille s’avère de plus en plus difficile pour les familles sud-africaines, et ce, en raison de facteurs variés comme les changements économiques, politiques, sociaux et culturels qui peuvent affecter négativement le bien-être familial. Bien que des voies et stratégies d’équilibre travail-famille soient identifiés dans d’autres contextes, les recherches disponibles à ce sujet dans un cadre sud-africain sont rares. Au regard des connaissances qu’ils possèdent par leur formation, leurs qualifications et leur rôle dans le contexte sud-africain, les travailleurs sociaux sud-africains ont été choisis à titre de participants. Le but de cette étude était ainsi d’étudier et de décrire, du point de vue d’un groupe de travailleurs sociaux sud-africains, les stratégies d’équilibre travail-famille qui pourraient potentiellement contribuer au bien-être familial dans le contexte sud-africain. Une méthodologie de recherche de type ‘enquête narrative’ a été adoptée. Treize assistantes sociales de 23 à 46 ans, employées dans différents contextes sociaux en Afrique du Sud, ont été recrutées par échantillonnage dirigé et « boule de neige »/par réseau. Les données ont été rassemblées au moyen de descriptions écrites, puis étudiées par analyse thématique. Les conclusions identifient les stratégies suivantes : l’établissement de limites claires, une communication ouverte dans les domaines du travail et de la famille, le renforcement des structures de soutien personnel et professionnel, la planification, la gestion du temps et la définition de priorités, prendre soin de soi, un environnement de travail raisonnable et l’évaluation continuelle de soi et de la famille. Si certaines conclusions sont semblables aux stratégies d’équilibre travail-famille identifiées dans d’autres contextes, la portée de cette étude réside dans le fait qu’elle identifie des stratégies spécifiques au contexte sud-africain, et plus particulièrement, du point de vue des travailleurs sociaux sud-africains.

KEYWORDS:

• Family
• well-being
• work–family balance
• social work

MOTS-CLÉS:

• Famille
• bien-être
• équilibre travail-famille
• travail social

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Marlize Bisschoff ([email protected]) started her studies in BA Social Work in 2010 at the NWU Potchefstroom Campus. During the course of her studies, she completed various holiday practicums at different NGO’s (Non-Government Organizations) as well as her 6 months internship at the Potchefstroom Hospital where had to work in a multidisciplinary team, as a medical social work intern. Marlize successfully completed her BA Social Work degree in 2013, she is a qualified social worker registered at the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) (1038619). She also received a Master’s degree in Positive Psychology in 2015.

Vicki Koen completed a BA degree in Psychology and Communication in 2006 at the North-West University (Potchefstroom), which was followed by an Honours degree in Psychology in 2007 at UNISA. In 2009 she completed her first Master’s degree in Psychology (cum laude) and also completed a B-Psych internship in counselling (a.k.a. counsellor in training practicum) (cum laude) at the North-West University (VTC). Thereafter she completed a Masters in Research Psychology at the North-West University (Potchefstroom) in 2010. She completed a Research Psychologist internship at the School of Behavioural Sciences at the North-West University (VTC) in 2011 and also commenced with her PhD in Psychology (entitled ‘Family psychosocial well-being in a South African context’), which she completed in 2012. She is registered with the HPCSA as a Research Psychologist (PS 0121169) and Registered Counsellor (PRC 0010111). Vicki completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR) at the North-West University (Potchefstroom campus) in 2015. She currently works as a senior lecturer at the Department of Psychology, NWU, Mafikeng Campus.

Elma H. Ryke ([email protected]) completed a BA (Social Work) at RAU (now UJ) in 1984 and a MA (Social Sciences in Mental Health) at UNISA in 1994. In 1999 she obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Philosophy (with distinction) at the PU for CHE and in 2004 a PhD. During her professional career she practised as social worker at the Castle Carey Clinic and later at the Weskoppies Hospital’s unit for children, where after she started a career as lecturer at the PU for CHE in 1991. She is currently an associate professor lecturer and subject chair at the School of Psychosocial Behavioural Sciences, subject division Social Work at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University. She also lectures undergraduate students (currently advanced social policy and social work practice perspectives, theories and approaches), already supervised Masters and Doctorate students, participated in the Bekkersdal Integrative Multidisciplinary Research Project and publishes in academic journals.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Research Foundation.