Pursuing Work-Life Balance through Life Crafting: A Qualitative Study on Muslim Women with Triple Burden
Abstract
This article introduces a qualitative study to explore the process of life crafting to attain work-life balance (WLB) for Muslim women as academia has a triple burden in the context of career women in Indonesia. This study uses a phenomenological approach, collecting data using semi-structured in-depth interviews, and thematic analysis as a data analysis technique. Participants are full-time employed women (academics), have families, are continuing their studies, and have professional qualifications (N = 8). The findings show the dynamics of Life Crafting that underlies the work and non-work domains that affect the attainment of work-life balance in women participants working while studying. Participants were found to understand and achieve their work-life balance differently according to their personal traits. This study contributes to current knowledge about career and life issues through the perspectives and work-life experiences of professional women in Indonesia.
Keywords
References
Acker, S. & Armenti, C. (2004). Sleepless in academia. Gender and Education, 16(1), 3-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/0954025032000170309
Aquarini, P. (2013). Negotiating and rethinking local culture: The narratives of indonesian women juggling higher education, work, and domestic roles. Asian Journal of Women's Studies, 19(4), 95-123. https://doi.org/10.1080/12259276.2013.11666167
Ayadurai, V. K. (2018). Work-life balance, work-study interface, gender, stress, and satisfaction of online students. Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 5445.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5445
Bolotnyy, V., Basilico, M., & Barreira, P. (2018). Graduate student mental health: Lessons from american economics departments. Journal of Economic Literature, 60(4), 1188-1222. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.20201555
Brough, P., Timms, C., O’Driscoll, M. P., Kalliath, T., Siu, O. L., Sit, C. & Lo, D. (2014). “Work–life balance: a longitudinal evaluation of a new measure across Australia and New Zealand workers”, The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 25(19), 2724-2744. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2014.899262
Chen, S., van der Meij, L., van Zyl, L., E., & Demerouti, E. (2022). The life crafting scale: development and validation of a multi-dimensional meaning-making measure. Frontier Psychology, 13, 795686. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.795686
Clark, S.C. (2000). Work/family border theory: A new theory of work/family balance. Human Relations, 53 (6), 747–770. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726700536001
Czekierda, K., Banik, A., Park, C. L., and Luszczynska, A. (2017). Meaning in life and physical health: systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Psychology Review, 11(4), 1-67. https://doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2017.1327325
David, I., & Iliescu, D. (2020). The influence of religiosity and meaning making on work outcomes: a path analysis. Current Psychology, 41(3). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-01119-y
Dekker, I., De Jong, E. M., Schippers, M. C., De Bruijn-Smolders, M., Alexiou, A., & Giesbers, B. (2020). Optimizing students’ mental health and academic performance: AI-Enhanced life crafting. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1063. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01063
Dumas, T. L. & Perry-Smith, J. E. (2018), The paradox of family structure and plans after work: Why single childless employees may be the least absorbed at work. Academy of Management Journal, 61(4), 1231-1252. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2016.0086
Duxbury, L. E., & Higgins, C. A. (1991). Gender differences in work-family conflict. Journal of Applied Psychology, 76(1), 60–74. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.76.1.60
Ehrhardt, K., & Ragins, B. R. (2019). Relational attachment at work: A complementary fit perspective on the role of relationships in organizational life. Academy of Management Journal, 62(1), 248–282. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2016.0245
Evans, T. M., Bira, L., Gastelum, J. B., Weiss, L. T., & Vanderford, N. L. (2018). Evidence for a mental health crisis in graduate education. Nature Biotechnology, 36(3), 282–284. https://doi.org/10.1038/ nbt.4089
Farradina, S. & Halim, F. W. (2016). The consequences of work-family conflict, burnout and organizational commitment among women in Indonesia. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 219, 241 – 247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.05.012
Fisher, G. G. (2002). Work/personal life balance: A construct development study. Dissertation.
Fisher, G. G., Bulger, C. A., & Smith, C. S. (2009). Beyond work and family: A measure of work/nonwork interference and enhancement. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 14(4), 441–456. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016737
Ford, M., & Parker, L. (2008). Thinking about Indonesian women and work. In Michele Ford and Lyn Parker (1st Eds.), Women and Work in Indonesia. Routledge.
Gambetti, R. C., Graffigna, G., & Biraghi, S. (2012). The grounded theory approach to the consumer-brand engagement. International Journal of Market Research, 54(5), 659-687. https://doi.org/10.2501/IJMR-54-5-659-687
Greenhaus, J. H., Collins, K. M., & Shaw, J. D. (2003). The relation between work-family balance and quality of life. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 63(3), 510–531. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0001-8791(02)00042-8
Groysberg, B. and Abrahams, R. (2014). Manage your work, manage your life. Harvard Business Review, 92(3), 58-66. https://hbr.org/2014/03/manage-your-work-manage-your-life
Haddon, B., & Hede, A. (2009). Work-life balance: In search of effective strategies [Annual Conference]. Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management, Melbourne.
Haar, J. M. (2013). Testing a new measure of work-life balance: A study of parent and non-parent employees from New Zealand. The International Journal of Human Resource Management. 24(17), 3305–3324.
Haar, J. M. & Roche, M. A. (2010). Family supportive organization perceptions and employee outcomes: the mediating effects of life satisfaction. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 21(7), 999-1014.
Haar, J. M., Sune, A., Russo, M. & Ollier-Malaterre, A. (2019). A cross-national study on the antecedents of work-life balance from the fit and balance perspective. Social Indicators Research, 142(1), 261-282, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-018-1875-6.
Haynes, C., Bulosan, M., Citty, J., Grant-Harris, M., Hudson, J., & Koro-Ljungberg, M. (2012). My world is not my doctoral program…or is it?: Female students’ perceptions of well-being. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 7(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.28945/1555
Haworth, J., & Lewis, S. (2005). Work, leisure and well-being. British Journal of Guidance and Counseling, 33(1), 67-79. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069880412331335902
Howitt, Dennis. (2019). Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods in Psychology: Putting theory into practice (4th Eds). Pearson Education Limited.
Ismajli, N., Zekiri, J., Qosja, E., & Krasniqi, I. (2015). The Importance of Motivation Factors on Employee Performance in Kosovo Municipalities. Journal of Political Sciences & Public Affairs, 3(2), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.4172/2332-0761.1000152
Jackson. L. T. B. & Fransman, E. I. (2018). Flexi work, financial well-being, work–life balance and their effects on subjective experiences of productivity and job satisfaction of females in an institution of higher learning. South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences, 21(1), 1487. https://doi.org/10.4102/ sajems.v21i1.1487
Jensen, M. T. & Knudsen, K. (2017). A two-wave cross-lagged study of business travel, work–family conflict, emotional exhaustion, and psychological health complaints. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology. 26(1), 30-41. https://doi.org/10.1080/1359432X.2016.1197206
Jong, E. M., Ziegler, N., & Schippers, M. C. (2020). From shattered goals to meaning in life: life crafting in times of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 577708. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.577708
Joudrey, A. D. & Wallace J. F. (2009). Leisure as a coping resource: A test of the job demand-control support model. Human Relations. 62(2), https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726708100357
Kelliher, C., Richardson, J., & Boiarintseva, G. (2018). All of work? All of life? Reconceptualizing work-life balance for the 21st century. Human Resource Management Journal, 29(2), 97-112. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12215
Karkoulian, S., Srour, J., & Sinan, T. (2016). A gender perspective on work-life balance, perceived stress, and locus of control. Journal of Bussiness Research, 60(11), 4918-4923. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.04.053
Kulp, A. M. (2020). Parenting on the path to the professoriate: A focus on graduate student mothers. Research in Higher Education, 61(3), 408–429. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-019-09561-z.
Le, H., Newman, A., Menzies, J., Zheng, C., & Fermelis, J. (2020). Work–life balance in Asia: A systematic review. Human Resource Management Review. 30(4), 100766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2020.100766
Maharaj, I., & Schlechter, A. F. (2007). Meaning in life and meaning of work: relationships with organizational citizenship behavior, commitment and job satisfaction. Management Dynamics: Journal of the Southern African Institute for Management Scientists, 16(3), 24-41. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-018-0277-9
Mahdi, M. I. (2022, April 11). Makin banyak perempuan indonesia jadi pekerja profesional. https://dataindonesia.id/sektor-riil/detail/makin-banyak-perempuan-indonesia-jadi-pekerja-profesional
Martinez, E., Sala, M. R. D., & Mcfarlane, A. (2013). Striving to obtain a school-work-life balance: The full-time doctoral student. International Journal of Doctoral Studies. 8, 39-59. https://doi.org/10.28945/1765.
N. Lakshmi & V. Sai Prasanth (2018). A study on work-life balance in working women. International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Scientific Research (IJAMSR), 1(7), 76-88. https://doi.org/10.31426/ijamsr.2018.1.7.718.
O'brien, K., R. & Hapgood, K., P. (2012). The academic jungle: Ecosystem modelling reveals why women are driven out of research. Oikos, 121(7), 999-1004. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0706.2012.20601.x
Pan, Y., Aisihaer, N., Li, Q., Jiao, Y., & Ren, S. (2022). Work-family conflict, happiness and organizational citizenship behavior among professional women: A moderated mediation model. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.923288
Pan, Y., & Sun, G. (2022). Exploring work-life balance among professional women in mainland China: A qualitative study. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 938664. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.938664
Perista, H. & Nunes, J. (2014). Women at work: difficulties achieving work–life balance. Eurofound. CID: 20.500.12592/r5jzh6.
Poth, C. N., & Creswell, J. W. (2016). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. SAGE Publications.
Quick, J. D., Henley, A. B., & Quick, J. C. (2004). The balancing act – at work and at home. Organizational Dynamics, 33(4), 426-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orgdyn.2004.09.008
Rashmi, K. & Kataria, A. (2021). Work–life balance: A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 42(11/12), 1028-1065. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-06-2021-0145.
Schippers, M. C., & Ziegler, N. (2019). Life crafting as a way to find purpose and meaning in life. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2778. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02778
Schulze, J., Bahrami-Rad, D., Beauchamp, J., & Henrich, J. (2018). The Origins of WEIRD Psychology. SSRN Electronic Journal, http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3201031
Sirgy, M. J., & Lee, D. J. (2018). Work–life balance: An integrative review. Applied Research Quality Life, 13(1), 229–254. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-017-9509-8
Srinivasan, T., & Sulur Nachimuthu, G. (2021). COVID-19 impact on employee flourishing: Parental stress as mediator. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 14(2), 281-290. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001037.
Steger, M. F. (2019). Meaning in life and in work. In Yeoman, R., Bailey, C., Madden, A., & Thompson, M. The Oxford Handbook of Meaningful Work (Chapter 12). Oxford University Press.
Steger, M. F., Shim, Y., Barenz, J., & Shin, J. Y. (2014). Through the windows of the soul: A pilot study using photography to enhance meaning in life. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 3 (1), 27–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2013.11.002
Sturges, J. (2012). Crafting a balance between work and home. Human Relations, 65(12), 1539–1559. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726712457435
Tan, Y., Lattie, E. G., Qiu, Y., Teng, Z., Wu, C., Tang, H., & Chen, J. (2021). Accessibility of mental health support in China and preferences on web-based services for mood disorders: A qualitative study. Internet Intervention, 4(26), 100475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2021.100475
Thilagavathy, S., & Geetha, S. N. (2021). Work-life balance: A systematic review. Vilakshan - XIMB Journal of Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/XJM-10-2020-0186
Tims, M., Bakker, A. B., & Derks, D. (2013). The impact of job crafting on job demands, job resources, and well-being. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 18(2), 230-240.
van Zyl, L. E., Deacon, E., & Rothmann, S. (2010). Towards happiness: Experiences of work-role fit, meaningfulness and work engagement of industrial/organizational psychologists in South Africa. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology. 36(1), 890. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajip.v36i1.890
van Zyl, L. E., Zondervan-Zwijnenburg, M. A., Dickens, L. R., & Hulshof, I. L. (2020a). Exploring meaning in life through a brief photo-ethnographic intervention using Instagram: A Bayesian growth modeling approach. International Review of Psychiatry, 32(7-8), 723–745. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2020.1809357
Wang, X., Zhang, Y., & Demerouti, E. (2022). Job crafting in remote work environments: How to balance work and life. Frontiers in Psychology.
Wijaya, L. & Layman, C. V. (2018). How do mompreneurs achieve work-life balance?: Evidence from small business in Tangerang, Indonesia. Journal of Business and Entrepreneurship, 6 (2), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.46273/JOB.
Wrześniewski, A., & Dutton, J. E. (2001). Crafting a job: Revisioning employees as active crafters of their work. The Academy of Management Review, 26(2), 179–201. https://doi.org/10.2307/259118
DOI: 10.15408/tazkiya.v12i2.35682
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
