Alternative Work Schedules: Are They the Key to Reducing Work-life Conflict and Improving Mental Health?

Abstract

Work-life conflict is a widely studied topic in psychology today (Gragnano, Miglioretti, Frings- Dresen, de Boer, 2017; Jijena-Michel & Jijena Michel, 2012). It can have a strong impact on an individual's life, including mental health (Lunau, Bambra, Eikemo, Wel, & Dragano, 2014). Using work/family border theory, this study includes multiple hypotheses predicting the relationship between work-life conflict, mental health, and alternative work schedules. It is predicted that introducing an alternative work schedule into an employee's life has the potential to reduce the conflict that the work and life domains have on mental health. One hundred and fifty-eight participants were recruited via Facebook, LinkedIn, and the CESNET Listserv. Participants completed a survey that determined schedule flexibility, and levels of work-life conflict and mental health. Results showed that work-life conflict and mental health were negatively related, and alternative work schedules and mental health are partially significantly positively correlated. Alternative work schedules were not significantly related to work-life conflict. Additionally, results showed that alternative work schedules did not moderate the relationship between work-life conflict and mental health.