Exploring workaholism determinants and life balance: A mixed-method study among academic nurse educators

Background

Academic nurse educators play a crucial role in the educational environment, but the demands of their profession can lead to workaholism, which could result in an imbalance between work and personal life.

Purpose

The study aimed to explore workaholism and life balance among academic nursing educators, as well as investigate the factors associated with workaholism.

Methods

A mixed-methods design based on the “concurrent triangulation” approach was employed. A convenience sample of 76 nurse educators completed the Dutch Work Addiction Scale (DUWAS) and the Life Balance Inventory (LBI), while a purposive sample of 20 nurse educators participated in semi-structured interviews. Inferential statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyze the data.

Results

The researchers found a notable prevalence of workaholism among nurse educators, with 59.0 % reporting a mean score above 2.5 and 86.8 % perceiving an unbalanced life. Regression analysis indicated that workaholism negatively predicted life balance (B = −0.404, p < 0.001). The qualitative findings derived three themes as determinants of workaholism: antecedents, consequences, personal and institutional strategies to mitigate workaholism among nursing educators.

Conclusion

Educational institutions should develop comprehensive approaches to support and develop their academicians, fostering a positive work environment, work-life balance, employee well-being, and professional development.