The Effect of Workload and Working Hours on Work-Life Balance: The Mediating Role of Work Stress Among Nurses

Abstract

This study aims to examine the effects of workload and working hours on work-life balance, with work stress as a mediating variable among nurses at Dr. Ario Wirawan Pulmonary Hospital, Salatiga, Indonesia. Maintaining work-life balance is particularly challenging in the healthcare sector, where nurses face demanding responsibilities, irregular schedules, and considerable physical and psychological pressures. Excessive workloads and prolonged working hours may increase work stress and interfere with personal and family responsibilities, making it important to understand how these factors relate to nurses' work-life balance. This study employed a quantitative approach using survey data collected from 215 nurses through purposive sampling. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS. The findings indicate that workload and working hours have positive and significant effects on work stress. Working hours significantly influence work-life balance, whereas workload has no significant direct effect. Work stress has no significant effect on work-life balance and does not mediate the relationships between workload and work-life balance or between working hours and work-life balance. These findings suggest that working hours are more directly associated with nurses' work-life balance than workload and work stress. This study contributes to the human resource management literature by providing empirical evidence on the limited mediating role of work stress in the relationship between job demands and work-life balance among healthcare professionals. The findings also emphasize the importance of effective work scheduling and workload management in supporting nurses' well-being.