In South Africa, the staff of higher education institutions experiences several stressors in their
work and home domains. Therefore, it is important to understand how these two life domains
are in interaction with each other. The general objective of this study was to investigate how
higher education staff experienced work-personal life interaction (WPLI). A sample of 24
higher education staff that was willing to participate in the study was taken from different
faculties and departments from a higher education institution in the Free State Province. For
the purpose of this research, a qualitative design from a phenomenological approach was
used.
The specific objectives of this study were to determine the experiences, main dimensions,
antecedents, consequences, and strategies in the lives of higher education staff. The results
obtained indicated that Afrikaans and African women and men experienced time and strain-based
conflict. Their work environment was characterised by a heavy workload, long
working hours, resulting in work being taken home, and their home environment was
characterised by a demanding family (spouses and children) and household duties. Men and
women also thought about things in the family domain (e.g., when their children were sick)
while they were at work. This caused a constant spill over, leaving employees tired and
stressed.
Strategies (e.g., prioritising, planning and time management) and support (e.g., spouses,
division of family and household duties, friends and colleagues, as well as the flexible
working hours) helped them to cope with this interaction.
Recommendations were made for future research and the organisation. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/1253 |
| Date | January 2006 |
| Creators | Coetzer, Estelle |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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