The relationship between work life balance and mental workload in female nurses in the inpatient unit of Hospital X: A quantitative study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61511/jevnah.v2i1.2025.1734Keywords:
work life balance, mental workload, nurses, education level, healthcare workersAbstract
Background: Mental workload in healthcare workers, especially female nurses, is a critical factor influencing job performance and well-being. Previous studies have suggested that work life balance significantly affects mental workload. This study aims to explore the relationship between work life balance and mental workload among female nurses in the inpatient unit of Hospital X. The findings could provide insights into how work-life balance interventions could reduce mental workload in healthcare settings. Methods: This quantitative study utilized a cross-sectional design, with data collected through questionnaires from 100 female nurses. The study employed chi-square tests to analyze the relationship between work life balance and mental workload, as well as logistic regression to identify dominant factors influencing mental workload. Statistical significance was determined at p < 0.05. Findings: The results revealed a significant relationship between work life balance and mental workload (p-value = 0.001). Nurses with higher education levels (S1 Ners) exhibited a stronger correlation with high mental workload (p-value = 0.018). The most dominant factor influencing mental workload was the education level (p-value = 0.004), with job satisfaction, employment status, and work experience serving as confounding variables. Conclusion: The study concludes that better work life balance, particularly through education, is crucial in mitigating mental workload in female nurses. Implementing work-life balance programs can improve the mental health and productivity of healthcare workers. Novelty/Originality of this article: This study contributes new insights into the relationship between work life balance and mental workload in the nursing profession, particularly in inpatient settings. It highlights the impact of education on mental workload, which has been less explored in previous studies.
References
Abdurrahman, A., & Suryadi, A. (2022). Analysis of mental workload in nurses due to the escalation of COVID-19 patients using the Subjective Workload Assessment Technique. Jurnal Ilmiah Multi Disiplin Indonesia Humantech, 1(8), 163–173. https://doi.org/10.32670/ht.v1i8.1863
Achmad, F., & Farihah, T. (2018). Analysis of mental workload using the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) method (Case study: RS. X). Integrated Lab Journal, 6(1), 29–36. https://ejournal.uin-suka.ac.id/pusat/integratedlab/article/view/1563
Akrimah, W. D., Wardana, I. W., & Tualeka, A. R. (2023). Mental workload and work factors as predictors of stress levels in port sector employees. The Indonesian Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 12(1 SE-Articles), 124–135. https://doi.org/10.20473/ijosh.v12i1.2023.124-135
Aini, A., Utari, D., Fithri, N. K., & Hardy, F. R. (2021). The relationship between noise and mental workload with work stress at PT. Duraquipt Cemerlang. Journal of Community Mental Health and Public Policy, 4(1), 37–48. https://doi.org/10.51602/cmhp.v4i1.62
Anwar, S., & Mutiara, D. (2015). Mental workload based on job level and age of employees in the CPO industry. Seminar Nasional Teknologi Informasi, Komunikasi dan Industri (SNTIKI), 7(November), 2085–9902.
Astari, D. W., Kartikaningsih, & Setiawan, D. (2024). Evaluation of nurse workload in patient units. Indonesian Journal of Global Health Research, 6(1), 83–94. https://doi.org/10.37287/ijghr.v6i1.2597
Borowiec, A. A., & Drygas, W. (2022). Work-life balance and mental and physical health among Warsaw specialists, managers, and entrepreneurs. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010492
Cezar-Vaz, M. R., Xavier, D. M., Bonow, C. A., Vaz, J. C., Cardoso, L. S., Sant'Anna, C. F, da Costa V. Z. (2022). Domains of physical and mental workload in health work and unpaid domestic work by gender division: A study with primary health care workers in Brazil. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(16). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169816
Citra, R. W., Wahyudi, T., & Rahmawati, R. (2020). Analysis of mental workload in nurses at XYZ Hospital using the NASA-TLX method. Jurnal Teknik Industri Universitas Tanjungpura, 01(01), 1689–1699. https://jurnal.untan.ac.id/index.php/jtinUNTAN/article/view/42197
Gallup. (2022). State of the global workplace: 2022 report. Available at: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-workplace-2022-report.aspx
Gunawan, J., Aungsuroch, Y., Fisher, M. L., & McDaniel, A. M. (2021). Gender and managerial competence: A comparison of male and female first-line nurse managers in Indonesia. Frontiers of Nursing, 8(1), 49–58. https://doi.org/10.2478/fon-2021-0006
Habibi, E., Taheri, M. R., & Hasanzadeh, A. (2015). Relationship between mental workload and musculoskeletal disorders among Alzahra hospital nurses. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 20(1), 1–6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4325400/
Hidayat, V., Sumin, Kartowagiran, B., Ayriza, Y. (2022). A multidimensional concept of mental workload: A systematic review. Journal of Educational, Health and Community Psychology, 11(4), 833. https://doi.org/10.12928/jehcp.v11i4.24203
Holland, P., Tham, T. L., Sheehan, C., Cooper, B. (2019). The impact of perceived workload on nurse satisfaction with work-life balance and intention to leave the occupation. Applied Nursing Research, 49, 70–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2019.06.001
López-López, M. L., Balanza-Galindo, S., Vera-Catalán, T., Gallego-Gómez, J. I., Rodríguez González-Moro, M. T., Rivera-Caravaca, J. M., Simonelli-Muñoz, A. J. (2018). Risk factors for mental workload: Influence of the working environment, cardiovascular health, and lifestyle. A cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 8(12), e022255. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022255
Manabung, A. R., Suoth, L. F., & Warouw, F. (2018). The relationship between work experience and workload with work stress in workers at PT. Pertamina TBBM Bitung. Kesmas, 7(5), 1–10. https://ejournal.unsrat.ac.id/index.php/kesmas/article/view/22103
McKinsey & Company. (2022). Employee mental health and burnout in Asia: A time to act. McKinsey & Company.
Natanael, K., Zainal, V. R., & Hakim, A. (2023). Workload and working hours effect on employees' work-life balance mediated by work stress. Enrichment: Journal of Management, 13(5). https://dinastipub.org/DIJEMSS/article/view/1680
Permatasari, L., Safitri, W., & Suryandari, D. (2023). The relationship between mental workload and burnout in nurses in the emergency room at UNS hospital. Journal of Health Research, 6(1), 81–92. https://jurnal.stikesmus.ac.id/index.php/avicenna
Rubio-Valdehita, S., López-Núñez, I., & Díaz-Ramiro, E. M. (2017). Ergonomic assessment of mental workload in higher education: Effects of the education system on students' workload perception. Ergonomics International Journal, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.23880/eoij-16000106
Widodo, S. R., Suhat, Hidayat, C. V., Mauliku, N. E. (2022). Relationship of age, duration of work, and environmental temperature with worker mental workload. KnE Medicine, 2022, 127–133. https://doi.org/10.18502/kme.v2i2.11075
Singal, E. M., Manampiring, A. E., & Nelwan, J. E. (2021). Analysis of factors related to work stress in employees of the Provincial Eye Hospital in North Sulawesi. Sam Ratulangi Journal of Public Health, 1(2), 040. https://doi.org/10.35801/srjoph.v1i2.31988
Swathi, V., & Reddy, M. (2016). Stress among working women: A literature review. International Journal of Indian Psychȯlogy, 11(1).https://ijip.co.in/index.php/ijip/article/view/4484
Tarwaka, Solikhul, H., & Sudiajeng, L. (2004). Ergonomics for safety, occupational health, and productivity (p. 361). Universitas Islam Batik Surakarta Press.
World Health Organization. (2022). Mental health at work. World Health Organization.
Wulansari, O. D. (2023). Narrative literature review: Factors affecting work-life balance. Psychopreneur Journal, 7(45), 15–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.37715/psy.v7i1.3404
Xiao, Y., Wang, Z. M., Wang, M. Z., Lan, Y. J., Fan, G. Q., Feng, C. (2011). Study on mental workload of teachers in primary schools. Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi, 29(12), 930–932. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22470947/
Zulfiyandi, Wirawan, F. A., Tanjung, N. P. S., Yolanda, R., Zaini, M., Andrian, D., Syafitri, K., Amaldi, G., Sidantha, I. N. Y. B. (2021). Ketenagakerjaan dalam data 2021 (4th ed.). Pusat Data dan Teknologi Informasi Ketenagakerjaan.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Indah Tri Utami
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
