2026, Vol. 8, Issue 1, Part A

author(s)
Arushi and Archana Thakur

abstract

Background: Indian women’s workforce participation has risen, yet balancing professional and domestic roles remains challenging. Work-life balance, occupational stress, and life satisfaction are closely linked determinants of well-being, but have been understudied in the Indian sociocultural context. This study examined their interrelationships, specifically whether better work-life balance predicts lower stress and higher life satisfaction, and whether occupational stress adversely affects life satisfaction.

Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design was employed with a purposive sample of 300 female teachers (aged 25-55 years) from public and private institutions in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. Data were collected using three standardized tools: Work-Life Balance Scale (Pareek & Purohit, 2010), Occupational Stress Index (Srivastava & Singh, 1981), and Life Satisfaction Scale (Anand, 2015).

Results: Findings revealed moderate work-life balance and life satisfaction, but high occupational stress among participants. Work-life balance domains were strongly interrelated, reflecting overlap between personal, social, and professional roles. Occupational stress was negatively linked to both balance and life satisfaction, underscoring its adverse impact on well-being. However, life satisfaction showed only weak ties with specific balance domains, suggesting stronger influence of cultural and familial factors over workplace conditions.

Conclusion: The study underscores the complex interplay among balance, stress, and satisfaction in Indian working women. High occupational stress undermines both work-life balance and overall satisfaction, while women’s evaluations of life are also shaped by cultural values emphasizing family and relational harmony. These findings emphasize the need for gender-sensitive workplace practices, including flexible work arrangements, supportive organizational policies, and accessible counseling interventions, to reduce stress and enhance women’s well-being.