Measuring work-life wellness: A South African validation study

Abstract

Orientation: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift towards flexible work arrangements, highlighting concerns about work-life balance and employee well-being. To address these issues, a reliable and validated measurement instrument to measure work-life wellness in South African workplaces is essential.

Research purpose: The study’s main aim was to validate and assess the dimensionality of the Work-Life Wellness Scale (WLWS), developed by Como and Domene (2022), within the South African context. We also tested for approximate invariance of the measure for age groups.

Motivation for the study: Limited research exists on the construct of work-life wellness (WLW), and no validated instrument is available to measure this concept in South Africa. Validating and providing empirical support for the dimensionality of the WLWS will provide researchers and practitioners with a psychometrically sound instrument for assessing WLW effectively. Approximate measurement invariance is a prerequisite for studying differences between age groups.

Research approach/design and method: A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was employed, obtaining 323 completed responses from full-time employees of a South African retail organisation. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, bifactor model analysis and measurement invariance across age groups.

Main findings: A bifactor model analysis revealed that the WLWS is essentially unidimensional, with a dominant general work-life wellness factor. While items related to work-life functioning (WLF) and work-life interference (WLI) are included, they primarily reflect this overarching construct. Measurement invariance testing largely supported configural, metric and scalar invariance across age groups.

Practical/managerial implications: The findings offer guidance for using the WLWS in practice, emphasising the interpretation of the overall WLW score. Organisations can use this validated tool to assess employee work-life wellness and develop targeted interventions to improve well-being.

Contribution/value-add: This study adds value by providing an instrument for assessing WLW in South Africa, contributing to local employee wellness research and informing culturally relevant HR policies and practices.