Examination of the impact of employees work-life balance on their mental health

Work has become a central aspect of life for many individuals. People increasingly channel more energy into their professional lives to achieve higher incomes, accelerate career advancement, and realize their potential. However, the growing importance of work may lead to difficulties in maintaining a balance between work and personal life, resulting in the disruption of work-life balance and subsequent negative impacts on employees. This study examines the effects of work-life balance on employees' mental health. A total of 402 employees from various sectors participated in the research. Work-life balance was evaluated across four dimensions: the negative impact of work on life, the negative impact of life on work, the positive impact of life on work, and the positive impact of work on life. Mental health was measured as a single dimension. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, internal consistency tests, independent sample t-tests, correlation analyses, and regression analyses. The findings revealed that the negative impacts of work on life and life on work were negatively correlated with mental health. In contrast, the positive impacts of life on work and work on life were positively correlated with mental health. Multiple regression analysis showed that the positive impacts of work on life and life on work positively influenced mental health. In contrast, the negative impact of work on life negatively affected mental health. On the other hand, the negative impact of life on work did not significantly affect mental health. These results indicate that the negative impact of work on life has a more detrimental effect on employees than the negative impact of life on work. In terms of demographic variables, it was found that the negative impact of work on life and the negative impact of life on work were higher among men compared to women. Additionally, managers reported higher levels of the positive impact of life on work and better mental health compared to non-managers. No significant differences were observed for the other demographic variables examined in the study. The findings underscore the critical importance of work-life balance for employees' mental health.