The role of workplace happiness and work engagement in the effect of work-life balance on job performance: A study on nurses

This study was conducted within the framework of a multidimensional model to investigate the effect of nurses' work-life balance perceptions on job performance through workplace happiness and work engagement. The research sample consisted of 531 nurses working in a public hospital located in province Osmaniye of Türkiye. Data were collected using the convenience sampling method and analyzed using SPSS 24 and AMOS 24 software packages. Descriptive statistics, reliability analyses, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques were used. Work-life balance was operationalized through two sub-dimensions: "negative impact of life on work" and "positive impact of work on life". The findings revealed that the negative impact of life on work had a significant and negative effect on both workplace happiness and work engagement, and its effect on work performance was only indirect and negative. In contrast, the positive impact of work on life had a statistically significant and positive effect on workplace happiness. Although its direct effects on work engagement and work performance were not statistically significant, it indirectly contributed positively to work performance through its effects on workplace happiness and work engagement. Furthermore, it was found that workplace happiness had a significant and positive effect on work engagement and work performance, whereas work engagement had a direct and significant positive effect on work performance. Overall, the results suggest that work-life balance does not directly affect work performance but rather exerts an indirect effect through variables such as workplace happiness and work engagement. Keywords: Work Life Balance, Workplace Happiness, Work Engagement, Job Performance, Nurses