Abstract
BackgroundWork-life balance is associated with health behaviors. In the face of digitalization, understanding this link requires a theory-based investigation of problematic internet use and perceived stress, which are so far unknown.ObjectiveOn the basis of the compensatory carry-over action model, this study aimed to determine whether problematic internet use and perceived stress mediate the relationship between health behaviors and work-life balance in two groups of internet users from different environments (residents in Germany and China). We also investigated whether the place of residence was a moderator.MethodsAn online questionnaire (N=877) was administered to residents from Germany (n=374) and China (n=503) in 3 languages (German, English, and Chinese). Moderated mediation analyses were run with health behaviors as the independent variable, work-life balance as the dependent variable, problematic internet use and perceived stress as the mediator variables, and place of residence as a potential moderator.ResultsOn a mean level, individuals in Germany reported less problematic internet use and more health behaviors than individuals in China; however, they also had lower work-life balance and higher perceived stress. Results showed that health behaviors seem to be directly related to work-life balance in both groups. Among the residents of Germany, a partial mediation was revealed (β=.13; P=.01), whereas among the residents of China, a full mediation was found (β=.02; P=.61). The mediator role of perceived stress was compared with problematic internet use in all the serial models and the parallel model. Residence moderated the relationship between health behaviors and work-life balance: The interrelation between health behaviors and work-life balance was stronger in Germany (β=.19; P<.001) than in China (β=.11; P=.01) when controlling for other variables.ConclusionsThe findings of this study are in line with the compensatory carry-over action model. To promote work-life balance, individuals should perform health behaviors to help overcome problematic internet use and perceived stress. Both problematic internet use and perceived stress mediated health behaviors and work-life balance partially in German study participants and fully in Chinese study participants.
Highlights
When comparing other variables between these 2 different places of residence groups, problematic internet use and work-life balance scores of group 2 were significantly higher than those of group 1, whereas perceived stress and health behaviors were lower in group 2
After controlling for covariates, the results revealed that health behaviors were negatively associated with problematic internet use, which in turn was interrelated with work-life balance
Results revealed that health behaviors were indirectly related to work-life balance through perceived stress and problematic internet use, and the mediator role of problematic internet use was not prominent in either of the serial models or the parallel model
Summary
Work-Life BalanceIncreasingly, many people struggle with maintaining a work-life balance [1] and have to manage issues arising from a poor work-life balance, such as sickness, limitations in the ability to work, and absence of work [2]. Objective: On the basis of the compensatory carry-over action model, this study aimed to determine whether problematic internet use and perceived stress mediate the relationship between health behaviors and work-life balance in two groups of internet users from different environments (residents in Germany and China). Moderated mediation analyses were run with health behaviors as the independent variable, work-life balance as the dependent variable, problematic internet use and perceived stress as the mediator variables, and place of residence as a potential moderator. Results: On a mean level, individuals in Germany reported less problematic internet use and more health behaviors than individuals in China; they had lower work-life balance and higher perceived stress. To promote work-life balance, individuals should perform health behaviors to help overcome problematic internet use and perceived stress. Both problematic internet use and perceived stress mediated health behaviors and work-life balance partially in German study participants and fully in Chinese study participants
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