Work–life integration in neuropsychology: a review of the existing literature and preliminary recommendations

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the current review paper is to identify and describe challenges to work–life integration in neuropsychology, and from this review extrapolate an initial set of recommendations and present a set of scenarios in which the recommendations might apply in the hopes of improving quality of life for current and prospective neuropsychologists. Specific areas of focus include diversity, early and mid-career transitions, and potential barriers to advancement in specific practice settings. Method: A broad review was conducted of extant literature on work–life integration. There is scant scientific literature in this area that is specific to neuropsychologists, or even psychology as a whole. Subsequently, the majority of this review was collected from more developed literatures in business and medical fields. The authors then provided recommendations based on experiences in their respective careers. Attempts were made to promote generalizability of recommendations for neuropsychologists in different settings. Results: Evidence supports a potentially adverse impact on quality of life and overall life satisfaction when work and personal lives conflict. Conclusion: This manuscript identifies some of the potential risks when work and life responsibilities are not well integrated. It is anticipated this will serve as a catalyst for future studies on work–life integration in the field of neuropsychology, specifically.

Keywords:

• Work–life balance
• job satisfaction
• health and wellness
• quality of life
• professional development