Work-nonwork balance: Development and validation of a global and multidimensional measure

Abstract

Based on Casper et al.'s (2018) definitions of global balance and involvement, affective, and effectiveness dimensions of work-nonwork balance, we developed and validated a measure, with a total of 20 items – 5 items for global balance and 5 items for each dimension. Using 3 studies, we established the content adequacy, factor structure, reliability, and gender and parental status invariance of the measure. Moreover, we show that our measure converges with prior measures of balance (Carlson et al., 2009; Valcour, 2007) and is distinct from role-specific measures of involvement, satisfaction, and performance, as well as life satisfaction. Finally, we demonstrate that global balance and its dimensions uniquely predict employee engagement, citizenship behaviors, organizational commitment, turnover intentions, emotional exhaustion, and/or health, above and beyond existing measures of balance. Thus, our research provides a comprehensive, validated, multidimensional measure of work-nonwork balance and offers unique explanation of valued attitudes and behaviors. Future theoretical, research and practical implications are discussed.