Title: Systematic literature review on quality of work life
Authors: Sabrina N. Ribeiro; Virgínia D. Carvalho
Addresses: Graduate Program in Public Management and Society, Institute of Applied Social Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL), 37.048-395, Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil ' Graduate Program in Public Management and Society, Institute of Applied Social Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL), 37.048-395, Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Abstract: This study is a systematic review of the literature on quality of working life (QWL), focusing on papers found in the Scopus and Web of Science databases between 2014 and 2023. The selection process adopted yielded 41 articles for review. A great number of publications were found focusing mainly on health professionals. However, an interest in another type of audience emerged, as shown by the expansion of research in the hotel industry, mainly by authors from the USA and Asia. Perceptions about corporate social responsibility practices, job satisfaction, performance, and leadership stood out as the most explored themes about QWL, and the studies were characterised, for the most part, as theoretical-empirical, cross-sectional, and quantitative, with a predominant use of structural equation modelling as an analysis technique. The mapping of the thematic evolution of research in QWL highlighted themes such as psychological capital, work engagement, and burnout as subjects to be further explored in QWL studies. The findings indicate possibilities for advancing new research on the topic, considering its social contributions to improving well-being and mental health at work.
Keywords: quality of life; systematic literature review; bibliometric analysis; work.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBBM.2025.152220
International Journal of Bibliometrics in Business and Management, 2025 Vol.4 No.3, pp.203 - 223
Received: 25 Feb 2025
Accepted: 28 Aug 2025
Published online: 11 Mar 2026 *