Cost of high workload on work–life balance: a moderated mediation model

ABSTRACT

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.

KEYWORDS:

• High workload
• emotional exhaustion
• intensive smartphone use
• work–life balance

Acknowledgements

This study was completed when Dr. Fabian O. Ugwu was a Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. We are grateful to AvH for their support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Fabian O. Ugwu

Fabian O. Ugwu is a senior lecturer and has interests in positive organisational phenomena, career development and well-being at work. He has published in The Lancet, Personnel Review, Occupational Medicine-Oxford and Journal of Career Assessment.

Lawrence E. Ugwu

Lawrence E. Ugwu holds a doctorate degree in Industrial/Organisational Psychology and has interests in retirement, work ethics and well-being. His articles have appeared in Personnel Review, Journal of Psychology in Africa, Ethics & Behavior.

Anthony C. Nwali

Anthony C. Nwali is a senior lecturer and has interests in human resources management and has published in Industry and Higher Education, European Journal of Social Sciences, Metropolitan Journal of Business & Economics, Higher Education Research & Development.

Ike E. Onyishi

Ike E. Onyishi is a professor and has interests in citizenship behaviour, work engagement and well-being at work. His articles have appeared in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal of Career Assessment, Personnel Review and Journal of Cross-cultural Psychology.

Chiedozie O. Okafor

Chiedozie O. Okafor holds a doctorate degree and has published in both local and international journals including Trends in Psychology, Evolutionary Psychology, PLOS ONE and Journal of Psychology in Africa. His core research areas are social and organisational psychology.