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  • 1.  measure of work-life balance

    Posted 02-28-2012 12:54
    Dear OB Division Netters:

    We are in the process of finalizing a set of measures to use in a NIH funded project on implementing a set of health interventions within the workplace. We want to include a well validated measure of work-life balance because of its known association with things such as program participation, retention and success. Unfortunately, this is a side of the research literature with which I have not kept up. However, I know many of you in the division conduct work-life balance research and thus, I'm seeking out your recommendations. Given the nature of our sample in both the control and intervention conditions, it cannot be a complicated measure both in terms of how to complete it and it's readability. Further, a short measure is preferable but one that has stood the "test of time" in that it has been used in research before, and seems to be consistently valid.

    Thus, what are your recommendations and if it's not too much to ask, what is the primary citation for your recommendations?

    Thanks in advance for your help.

    Sincerely -- Bob Vandenberg

    __________________________________________
    Robert J. Vandenberg
    Terry College of Business
    Department of Management
    University of Georgia
    Athens, GA 30602-6256

    Voice: 706-542-3720 (Brooks: Tues.-Thurs.-Fri) or
    706-542-4328 (Ramsey: Mon.- Weds.)
    Fax: 706-542-3743
    Home: 706-310-0906

    Terry College: http://www.terry.uga.edu

    Department of Management: http://www.terry.uga.edu/management/

    Past Editor (08-10), Organizational Research Methods -- http://orm.sagepub.com

    Fellow, William A. and Barbara R. Owens Institute for Behavioral Research -- http://www.ibr.uga.edu/

    Fellow and Short Course Instructor, Center for the Advancement of Research Methods and Analysis --
    http://carma.wayne.edu/Default.asp


  • 2.  measure of work-life balance

    Posted 02-29-2012 03:01

    Hi Bob,

    I published a 5-item measure of satisfaction with work-life balance in Journal of Applied Psychology (alpha = 0.93). If you are looking for a short, valid, reliable measure, this may fit the bill.

    Respondents are asked "How satisfied are you with each of the following?"  Response scale is 1=very dissatisfied, 2=satisfied, 3=neutral, 4=satisfied, 5=very satisfied.

    1.      The way you divide your time between work and personal or family life.
    2.      The way you divide your attention between work and home.
    3.      How well your work life and your personal or family life fit together.
    4.      Your ability to balance the needs of your job with those of your personal or family life.
    5.      The opportunity you have to perform your job well and yet be able to perform home-related duties adequately.


    The full citation is:  Valcour, M.  (2007).  Work-based resources as moderators of the relationship between work hours and satisfaction with work-family balance.  Journal of Applied Psychology, 92(6):1512-1523.

    Best regards,

    Monique

    Monique Valcour, PhD
    Professor of Management
    EDHEC Business School
    393 Promenade des Anglais, BP 3116
    06202 Nice cedex 3
    FRANCE
    Mobile: +33 (0)6 48 79 85 56
    E-mail: Monique.VALCOUR@edhec.edu



    -----Original Message-----
    From: Robert J Vandenberg [mailto:rvandenb@UGA.EDU]
    Sent: Tue 28-Feb-12 18:54
    Subject: measure of work-life balance

    Dear OB Division Netters:

    We are in the process of finalizing a set of measures to use in a NIH funded project on implementing a set of health interventions within the workplace.  We want to include a well validated measure of work-life balance because of its known association with things such as program participation, retention and success.  Unfortunately, this is a side of the research literature with which I have not kept up.  However, I know many of you in the division conduct work-life balance research and thus, I'm seeking out your recommendations.  Given the nature of our sample in both the control and intervention conditions, it cannot be a complicated measure both in terms of how to complete it and it's readability.  Further, a short measure is preferable but one that has stood the "test of time" in that it has been used in research before, and seems to be consistently valid. 

    Thus, what are your recommendations and if it's not too much to ask, what is the primary citation for your recommendations?

    Thanks in advance for your help.

    Sincerely -- Bob Vandenberg

    __________________________________________
    Robert J. Vandenberg
    Terry College of Business
    Department of Management
    University of Georgia
    Athens, GA 30602-6256

    Voice: 706-542-3720 (Brooks: Tues.-Thurs.-Fri) or
           706-542-4328 (Ramsey: Mon.- Weds.)
    Fax:   706-542-3743
    Home:  706-310-0906

    Terry College: http://www.terry.uga.edu

    Department of Management: http://www.terry.uga.edu/management/

    Past Editor (08-10), Organizational Research Methods -- http://orm.sagepub.com

    Fellow, William A. and Barbara R. Owens Institute for Behavioral Research -- http://www.ibr.uga.edu/

    Fellow and Short Course Instructor, Center for the Advancement of Research Methods and Analysis --
    http://carma.wayne.edu/Default.asp