SYNTHESIZING WORK–LIFE BALANCE ACROSS LEVELS: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW FROM A JOB DEMANDS–RESOURCES PERSPECTIVE

บทคัดย่อ

In an environment of technological acceleration and “always-on” connectivity, the stacking of work demands and family responsibilities has made work–life balance (WLB) an important topic in both scholarship and practice. This paper defines WLB as “a subjective overall evaluation composed of substantive engagement in both the work and non-work domains and a lower level of cross-domain conflict,” and, under the job demands–resources (JD–R) framework, conducts a narrative integrative review that connects micro (individual–family), meso (job–organization), and macro (institutions–culture) evidence (without cross-scale conversions under heterogeneous measures, but with cautious interpretation under a unified definition). Main findings: First, resource-type factors (e.g., time/location control, family-supportive supervisory and social support, recovery and psychological resources) are, on the whole, associated with higher WLB; demand-type factors (e.g., long hours and unpredictable scheduling, after-hours contact pressure, caregiving and commuting burdens) often reduce WLB via work–family conflict (WFC). Second, macro-level policies and culture can transform nominal flexibility into usable resources only when “availability, non-punitive use, and implementation quality” are in place, thereby improving individual health and organizational outcomes along the pathway of “reduced interference/enhanced recovery, decreased WFC, and increased work-to-family enrichment (WFE).” Third, day-level and multi-wave evidence supports a virtuous cycle of “positive emotions—resource expansion” (Broaden-and-Build Theory), while social exchange mechanisms explain attitude and performance improvements through “organizational support—employee reciprocation.” The contribution of this paper lies in: providing a reusable unified definition; integrating fragmented evidence within a cross-level JD–R framework; clarifying the key conditions for converting “nominal resources into usable resources”; and proposing a research agenda suited to Asian contexts characterized by long working hours and long commutes.