Abstract
BackgroundNurses in Sweden have a high absence due to illness and many retire before the age of sixty. Factors at work as well as in private life may contribute to health problems. To maintain a healthy work–force there is a need for actions on work-life balance in a salutogenic perspective. The aim of this study was to explore perceptions of resources in everyday life to balance work and private life among nurses in home help service.MethodsThirteen semi-structured individual interviews and two focus group interviews were conducted with home help service nurses in Sweden. A qualitative content analysis was used for the analyses.ResultIn the analyses, six themes of perceptions of recourses in everyday life emerged;(i) Reflecting on life. (ii) Being healthy and taking care of yourself. (iii) Having a meaningful job and a supportive work climate. (iv) Working shifts and part time. (v) Having a family and a supporting network. (vi) Making your home your castle.ConclusionsThe result points out the complexity of work-life balance and support that the need for nurses to balance everyday life differs during different phases and transitions in life. In this salutogenic study, the result differs from studies with a pathogenic approach. Shift work and part time work were seen as two resources that contributed to flexibility and a prerequisite to work-life balance. To have time and energy for both private life and work was seen as essential. To reflect on and discuss life gave inner strength to set boundaries and to prioritize both in private life and in work life. Managers in nursing contexts have a great challenge to maintain and strengthen resources which enhance the work-life balance and health of nurses. Salutogenic research is needed to gain an understanding of resources that enhance work-life balance and health in nursing contexts.
Highlights
Nurses in Sweden have a high absence due to illness and many retire before the age of sixty
The result points out the complexity of work-life balance and support that the need for nurses to balance everyday life differs during different phases and transitions in life
Shift work and part time work were seen as two resources that contributed to flexibility and a prerequisite to work-life balance
Summary
Nurses in Sweden have a high absence due to illness and many retire before the age of sixty. To maintain a healthy work–force there is a need for actions on work-life balance in a salutogenic perspective. It is essential to break away from the traditional focus on work-family conflict to a better understanding of new ways to achieve a health-promoting workplace [12]. The European Community Health Promotion Indicator Development Model (EUHPID) demonstrates that health development can be analyzed from a salutogenic (health resources and positive health) and a pathogenic (risk factors and disease) perspective [13]. A majority of the studies of health and ill health has a pathogenic perspective [14] but the salutogenic perspective with focus on positive resources that promote health has been shown to be important in occupational health [15]. Workplace health promotion is workplace initiatives aiming to promote employees’ health from a salutogenic perspective [21]
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