Work-Life Balance and Happiness Among Nurses in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on COR and JD-R...

Work-Life Balance (WLB) and happiness are critical in nursing management, given the complexity of the work environment. Hence, achieving WLB and happiness would produce desirable outcomes for nurses and patients.

Based on the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory and the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, this study 1) described the levels of WLB and Happiness among nurses. 2) examined the positive correlation between WLB and Happiness. 3) investigated the variation of WLB and happiness in response to nurses' Socio-demographic and professional characteristics.

This research used a descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional design with a convenience sample of 238 nurses in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire included self-administered versions of the Hayman Work-Life Balance Scale and the Oxford Happiness Scale. SPSS version 26 was used to analyze the study data collected between May and July 2024.

The nurses achieved an average level of WLB and reported a moderate level of happiness. A Pearson's test showed a significant positive correlation between nurses' WLB and happiness (r =0.500, p<0.001). Factors such as age, nationality, living with family, educational background, and years of experience led to significant differences in both WLB and happiness.

WLB remains a major challenge for many healthcare systems, as work-related interests increasingly dominate nurses' lives. Human resources regulations are needed to encourage family-friendly policy and implement a well-being program to address the issues nurses face regarding their WLB and happiness. Additional research is recommended to deepen our understanding of the mechanism linking WLB to other work outcomes in the healthcare professions. Such insights are vital for informing policy, enhancing job satisfaction, and ultimately improving patient care outcomes.