Work-Life Balance and Productivity of Working Mothers at Rivers State University (RSU)

Osaro Olaka Olaka; Prof. E. B. Okemini

doi:10.56201/jpaswr.v11.no8.2026.pg62.70

📄 Download Paper

Work-Life Balance and Productivity of Working Mothers at Rivers State University (RSU)

Osaro Olaka Olaka and Prof. E. B. Okemini

Abstract

This study examined the interface between professional labour and social reproduction through the lens of Industrial Sociology, focusing on working mothers at Rivers State University , anchored on Role Theory and Social Integration Theory. The study examined how family obligations and stressors in the workplace can impact the productivity of the organisation as well as employees' wellbeing. Data was collected from 240 respondents out of a population size of 262 (92.31% response rate) in both academic and non-academic staff category of RSU. Collected data were analysing using descriptive statistics. Empirical findings show that there is a high Double Burden with a dimension mean of 2.87 for work irregularity because of financial factors and 2.92 for stress-induced loss of productivity. The results indicate that there are several factors that contribute to structural role overload: the nature of the academic workplace and the changing domestic economic pressures. The study concludes that human capital efficiency is less when there is no institutional support. Accordingly, the study recommends that the University management should implement on-campus childcare, flexible working hours and implement family friendly industrial relations policies to mitigate role conflict and boost the institutions' productivity.

Keywords

Work-Life BalanceLabourProductivityMothersRole.

References

Abioro, M. A., Oladejo, D. A., & Ashogbon, F. O. (2018). Work life balance practices and employees productivity in the Nigerian university system. Crawford Journal of Business & Social Sciences, 13(2), 49–59. Adisa, T. A., Gbadamosi, G., & Adekoya, O. D. (2021). The myth and the reality of work-life balance in Nigeria. In T. A. Adisa & G. Gbadamosi (Eds.), Work-life interface: Non- western perspectives (pp. 127–153). Palgrave Macmillan. Babbie, E. R. (2013). The practice of social research (13th ed.). Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Clark, S. C. (2000). Work/family border theory: A new theory of work/family balance. Human Relations, 53(6), 747–770. Coser, L. A. (1974). Greedy institutions: Patterns of undivided commitment. The Free Press. Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications. Kahn, R. L., Wolfe, D. M., Quinn, R. P., Snoek, J. D., & Rosenthal, R. A. (1964). Organizational stress: Studies in role conflict and ambiguity. Wiley. Linton, R. (1936). The study of man: An introduction. Appleton-Century. Morris, M. L., & Madsen, S. R. (2007). Advancing work–life integration in individuals, organizations, and communities. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 9(4), 439– 454. Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2016). Research methods for business students (7th ed.). Pearson Education. Walton, R. E. (1973). Quality of work life: What is it? Sloan Management Review, 15(1), 11–21.

Work-Life Balance and Productivity of Working Mothers at Rivers State University (RSU)

Abstract

Keywords

References

More Articles from JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE RESEARCH