Examining the relationship between recreational activity, healthy life behaviors, quality of work life and occupational balance in working individuals

Soydan, A. (2024). Examination of the Relationship Between Recreational Activity, Healthy Life Behaviors, Work and Life Quality and Academic Balance in Working Individuals, İstanbul Atlas University Postgraduate Education Institute, Department of Occupational Therapy, İstanbul. The ways in which individuals utilize their leisure time, along with their physical and mental health, and the level of satisfaction and well-being they experience in their work life, are crucial for occupational balance and quality of life. Maintaining occupational balance supports an individual's physical and mental health and enhances their quality of life. This study aimed to examine the effects of recreational activities, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and work-life quality on occupational balance among working individuals. The study sample consisted of 424 healthy volunteers. In addition to demographic information, the Leisure Attitude Scale was used to assess leisure activity attitudes, the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II was employed to evaluate healthy lifestyle behaviors, the Quality of Work Life Scale for assessing work-life quality, and the Occupational Balance Questionnaire was used to measure occupational balance. The findings indicated that leisure attitude, healthy lifestyle behaviors, age, weekly working hours, and income level positively impacted and improved occupational balance. Conversely, it was determined that an increase in the quality of work life, occupational tenure, and difficulty in utilizing leisure time negatively affected occupational balance. Regarding participants' quality of life, no significant differences were found based on gender and age, but single individuals exhibited higher quality of life compared to married ones. Additionally, married participants had higher levels of health responsibility and better nutrition habits compared to single participants. In terms of work-life quality, single individuals showed higher levels of burnout than their married counterparts. Occupational balance did not significantly differ according to gender, age, marital status, occupational tenure, and weekly working hours. Furthermore, participants with moderate income levels demonstrated higher occupational balance, and those who never experienced difficulties in utilizing leisure time had higher occupational balance levels compared to those who sometimes or always faced such difficulties. Keywords: Recreational Activity, Quality of Work Life, Healthy Life Skills, Occupational Balance