Work-Life Boundary Management of Peer Support Workers when Engaging in Virtual Mental Health Support

Abstract

Mental health challenges have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared. In this context, peer support has proved to be a valuable resource. In many jurisdictions, peer support services have moved online, offered virtually by peer support workers who have engaged in work from home. Despite the importance and prevalence of virtual mental health peer support during the pandemic, there has been a paucity of research that examines how working from home influences PSWs’ work-life boundaries. This research aims to examine work-life boundary challenges and management of PSWs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with paid PSWs in a peer support organization. Data was analyzed thematically using inductive and deductive approaches. Descriptive coding utilizing participants’ terms was followed by inferential coding informed by boundary theory. The work-life boundary challenges were temporal, physical, and task-related. PSWs’ strategies to address these boundaries involved segmenting work-life domains by creating separate timescapes, spaces, and tasks and integrating domains by allowing some permeability between the areas of work and life. This study highlights the need to attend to the consequences of greater work-life integration for mental health workers. Implications for theory, future research, management, and policy of health workforce are discussed.