Title: Balancing professional and personal life: challenges and strategies among female physicians in the Middle East

Authors: Safinaz H. Abourokbah; Abdulrahman S. Basahal

Addresses: Department of Business Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia ' Department of Human Resource Management, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to understand the work-life challenges that Saudi female physician experience, and which strategies they apply to deal with them. The paper applied a qualitative approach with phenomenological research design. A combination of purposive, convenience and snowball sampling were used to recruit 16 Saudi female physicians who are married and have at least one child. Participants were interviewed by means of a semi-structured interview protocol, and interview transcripts were analysed using an Interpretative Phenomenology Analysis (IPA) technique. Utilising IPA, the study unveiled seven distinct themes, each delving deeply into the challenges confronted by Saudi female doctors concerning specific aspects of their lives and how each of these are navigated. The identified life demands or themes encompassed (a) work, (b) childcare, (c) family time, (d) household, (e) marriage, (f) social life and (g) self-care. The results may help organisations and society at whole to develop measures that can better assist Saudi female physicians with developing a healthy work-life balance.

Keywords: female physicians; management; middle east; Saudi; work-life balance; working mothers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAMS.2026.154558

International Journal of Applied Management Science, 2026 Vol.18 No.2, pp.160 - 182

Received: 13 Mar 2024
Accepted: 05 Jul 2024
Published online: 06 Jul 2026 *

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