Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Work-Life Balance and Healthy Living for Healthcare Professionals

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Good Health and Well-Being

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals ((ENUNSDG))

  • 155 Accesses

Synonyms

Health workers; Healthcare professionals; Job satisfaction; Job stress; Medical professionals; Medical students; Occupational stress; Work-life balance; Work-life integration; Workplace well-being; Worksite wellness

Definition

From a broader perspective, the concept of work-life balance is described as the ability of the individual to meet the demands of both work and non-work life adequately. According to Davis and Tuttle (2017), “the concept of work-life balance reflects an individual’s simultaneous engagement with work and non-work social roles, taking into account the relationships with other social actors implicated in work and non-work (usually family) life.”

Introduction

Role expectations and responsibilities between the domains of work and life are often in conflict, impacting the physical and mental well-being of the individual (Hammig et al. 2009). The concept of work-life balance captures the reconcilability between the work and the private domains and can be...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aboalshamat K, Hou XY, Strodl E (2015) Psychological well-being status among medical and dental students in Makkah, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. Med Teach 37:S75–S81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • American Nurses Association [Online]. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/code-of-ethics-for-nurses/

  • Asani et al (2016) Prevalence of perceived stress among clinical students. Niger J Basic Clin Sci 13(1):55–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Austin W, Goble E, Leier B, Byrne P (2009) Compassion fatigue: the experience of nurses. Ethics Soc Welf 3:195–214. https://doi.org/10.1080/17496530902951988

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aycock N, Boyle D (2009) Interventions to manage compassion fatigue in oncology nursing. Clin J Oncol Nurs 13:183–191. https://doi.org/10.1188/09.CJON.183-191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bendix J, Krivich RS, Martin KL, Mazzolini C, Shryock T (2018) [Online]. Top 10 challenges facing physicians in 2018. Med Econ. http://www.medicaleconomics.com/medical-economics-blog/top-10-challenges-facing-physicians-2018. Accessed 20 June 2018

  • Bunton SA, Corrice AM, Pollart SM, Novielli KD, Williams VN et al (2012) Predictors of workplace satisfaction for U.S. medical school faculty in an era of change and challenge. Acad Med 87:574–581. Chung et al (2010) included work-life balance in their survey as an important factor of job satisfaction

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bush NJ (2009). Compassion fatigue: Are you at risk? Oncol Nurs Forum 36(1):24–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bush NJ, Boyle DA (2012) Self-healing through reflections workbook for nurses. Oncology Nursing Society, Pittsburgh

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaudry MA, Khan IAM, Ashraf MF, Ibrahim MT, Mahmood A, Zeb A (2017) Prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical students of private medical colleges in Pakistan. Biomedica 33(2):103–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis SN, Tuttle JD (2017) Context, opportunity, and demands: satisfaction with work-life balance in 26 countries. J Comp Fam Stud 330(4):329–348

    Google Scholar 

  • Dyrbye LN, Harper W, Durning SJ et al (2011) Patterns of distress in US medical students. Med Teach 33(10):834–839

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliot KA, Daley D (2013) Stress, coping, and psychological well-being among forensic health care professionals. Leg Criminol Psychol 18:187–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erschens R, Herrmann-Werner A, Keifenheim KE, Loda T, Bugaj TJ, Nikendei C, Lammerding-Köppel M, Zipfel S, Junne F (2018) Differential determination of perceived stress in medical students and high-school graduates due to private and training-related stressors. PLoS One 13(1):1–16. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0191831

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garfinkel PE, Bagby RM, Schuller DR, Williams CC, Dickens SE et al (2001) Predictors of success and satisfaction in the practice of psychiatry: a preliminary follow-up study. Can J Psychiatr 46(9):835–840

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gregory ST, Menser T (2015) Burnout among primary care physicians: a test of the areas of worklife model. J Healthc Manag 60(2):133–148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammig O, Gutzwiller F, Bauer G (2009) Work-life conflict and associations with work- and nonwork-related factors and with physical and mental health outcomes: a nationally representative cross-sectional study in Switzerland. BMC Public Health 9:435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammig O, Brauchli R, Bauer G (2012) Effort-reward and work-life imbalance, general stress and burnout among employees of a large public hospital in Switzerland. Swiss Med Wkly 142:1–11. https://doi.org/10.4414/smw.2012.13577

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Houck D (2014) Helping nurses cope with grief and compassion fatigue: an educational intervention. Clin J Oncol Nurs 18(4):454–458

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howe A, Smajdor A, Steockl A (2012) Towards an understanding of resilience and its relevance to medical training. Med Educ 46:349–356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ibrahim MB, Abdelreheem MH (2015) Prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical and pharmaceutical students in Alexandria University. Alex J Med 51: 167–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iqbal S, Gupta S, Venkatarao E (2015) Stress, anxiety & depression among medical undergraduate students & their socio-demographic correlates. Indian J Med Res 141(3):354–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly LA, McHugh MD, Aiken LH (2011) Nursing outcomes in magnet and non-magnet hospitals. J Nurs Admin 41(10):428–433

    Google Scholar 

  • Kao L, Chiu Y, Lin H et al (2016) Prevalence of chronic diseases among physicians in Taiwan: a population-based cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 6:e009954. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009954

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar S (2007) Burnout in psychiatrists. World Psychiatry 6:186–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Kunikata H, Watanabe K, Miyoski M, Tanioka T (2012) The effects measurement of hand massage by the autonomic activity and psychological indicators. J Investig Med 59:206–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lasalvia A, Bonetto C, Bertani M, Bissoli S, Cristofalo D et al (2009) Influence of perceived organisational factors on job burnout: survey of community mental health staff. Br J Psychiatry 195:537–544

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leiter MP (2015) Key worklife areas contributing to health care burnout: reflections on the ORCAB project. Br J Health Psychol 20(2):223–227. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linzer M, Manwell LB, Williams ES, Bobula JA, Brown RL, Varkey AB, … Investigators M (2009). Working conditions in primary care: physician reactions and care quality. Ann Intern Med 151(1), 26–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin G (2008). Physician, heal thyself. The Phrase Finder. Retrieved 05 Dec 2008

    Google Scholar 

  • Maslach C, Schaufeli WB, Leiter MP (2001) Job burnout. Annu Rev Psychol 52:397–422

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mavor KI, McNeill KG, Anderson K, Kerr A, O’Reilly E, Plato MJ (2014) Beyond prevalence to process: the role of self and identity in medical student well-being. Med Educ 48:351–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mota MC, De Souza DA, Rossato LT, Silve CM, Araújo MBJ, Tufik S, De Mello MT, Crispim CA (2013) Dietary patterns, metabolic markers and subjective sleep measures in resident physicians. Chronobiol Int 30(8):1032–1041. https://doi.org/10.3109/07420528.2013.796966

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Park CL, Adler NE (2003) Coping styles as a predictor of health and wellbeing across the first year of medical school. Health Psychol 22(6):627–631

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Radcliffe C, Lester H (2003) Perceived stress during undergraduate medical training: a qualitative study. Med Educ 37(1):32–38. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2923.2003.01405.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Radley F, Figley C (2007) The social psychology of compassion. Clin Soc Work J 35:207–214. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10615-007-0087-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rajshri SC, Narayan SI, Mutalik N et al (2017) A study of co-morbid depression and anxiety in pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) among undergraduate medical students: a descriptive study. Med Innovatica 6(1):13–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards K, Goodwin M (2017) Best practices in healthcare management begin with self. Nurs Econ 35(3):152–155

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosch P (n.d.) [Online]. Stress and heart disease. The American Institute of Stress. https://www.stress.org/stress-and-heart-disease/. Accessed 20 June

  • Roskoden FC, Krüger J, Vogt LJ, Gärtner S, Hannich HJ, Steveling A et al (2017) Physical activity, energy expenditure, nutritional habits, quality of sleep and stress levels in shift-working health care personnel. PLoS One 12(1):e0169983. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0169983

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Selye H (1974) Stress without distress. New American Library, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma B, Prassad S, Pandey R, Singh J, Sodhi KS, Wadhwa D (2013) Evaluation of stress among postgraduate medical and dental students: a pilot study. Delhi Psychiatry J 16:312–316

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheikh BT, Kahloon A, Kazim M, Khalid H, Nawaz K, Khan N et al (2004) Students stress and coping strategies: a case of Pakistani medical school. Educ Health 17:346–353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Showalter SE (2010) Compassion fatigue: what is it? Why does it matter? Recognizing the symptoms, acknowledging the impact, developing the tools to prevent compassion fatigue, and strengthen the professional already suffering from the effects. Am J Hosp Palliat Med 27:239–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shawaz I, Gupta S, Venkatarao E (2015) Stress, anxiety & depression among medical undergraduate students & their socio-demographic correlates. Indian J Med Res 141:354–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stebnicki MA (2008) Empathic fatigue: healing the mind, body, and spirit of professional counsellors. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Tabalipa FO et al (2015) Prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical students. Brasilian J Med Educ 39(3):1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Umene-Nakano W, Kato TA, Kikuchi S, Tateno M, Fujisawa D et al (2013) Nationwide survey of work environment, work-life balance and burnout among psychiatrists in Japan. PLoS One 8(2):e55189. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0055189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vachon ML (2001) The nurse’s role: the world of palliative care nursing. Textbook of palliative care nursing. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 647–662

    Google Scholar 

  • Wepfer AG, Brauchli R, Jenny GJ, Hämmig O, Bauer GF (2015) The experience of work-life balance across family-life stages in Switzerland: a cross sectional questionnaire-based study. BMC Public Health 15:1290. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2584-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weston MJ, Brewer KC, Peterson CA (2012) ANA principles: the framework for nurse staffing to positively impact outcomes. Nurs Econ 30(5):247–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Yusoff MSB (2013) Interventions on medical students’ psychological health: a meta-analysis. J Taibah Univ Med Sci 9(1):1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtumed.2013.09.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yusoff MSB, Rahim AFA (2009) Experiences from a medical students’ wellbeing workshop. Med Educ J 43(11):1108–1109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yusoff MSB, Rahim AFA (2010) Impact of the medical students’ well-being in reducing medical students’ stress level. ASEAN J Psychiatry 11(1):231

    Google Scholar 

  • Yusoff MSB, Rahim AFA, Yaacob MJ (2010) Prevalence and sources of stress among Universiti Sains Malaysia medical students. Malays J Med Sci 17(1):30–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Yusoff MSB, Yee LY, Wei LH et al (2011) A study on stress, stressors and coping strategies among Malaysian medical students. Int J Stud Res 1(2):45–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yusoff MJ, Yaacob MJ, Naing NN, Esa AR (2015) The effectiveness of a DEAL-based intervention to reduce stress and depression symptoms. Educ Med J 7(1):e1–e15. https://doi.org/10.5959/eimj.v6i4.282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zvauya R, Oyebode F, Day EJ, Thomas CP, Jones LA (2017) A comparison of stress levels, coping styles and psychological morbidity between graduate-entry and traditional undergraduate medical students during the first 2 years at a UK medical school. BMC Res Notes 10:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Women’s Health and Well-being, Private Medical Practice, Cape Town, South Africa

    Lynette Steele

Authors
  1. Lynette Steele
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lynette Steele .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. FTZ-ALS, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences FTZ-ALS, Hamburg, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

  2. Centre for Work Related Studies, University of Chester, Chester, UK

    Tony Wall

  3. University of Aveiro , Aveiro, Portugal

    Ulisses Azeiteiro

  4. Ctr Neurosci & Cell Biology, 1 Floor, Univ Coimbra, Edf Fac Medicina, Coimbra, Portugal

    Anabela Marisa Azul

  5. Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Passo Fundo University Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Passo Fundo, Brazil

    Luciana Brandli

  6. Ozyegin University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Pinar Gökcin Özuyar

Section Editor information

  1. No affiliation provided

    Mohamed Walid

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Steele, L. (2019). Work-Life Balance and Healthy Living for Healthcare Professionals. In: Leal Filho, W., Wall, T., Azeiteiro, U., Azul, A., Brandli, L., Özuyar, P. (eds) Good Health and Well-Being. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69627-0_2-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69627-0_2-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-69627-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-69627-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Earth and Environm. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation