Title: An empirical study of social support, stress and life satisfaction among engineering graduates: mediating role of perceived work/study life balance

Authors: Khushboo Kumar; Rachna Chaturvedi

Addresses: Department of Humanities and Social Science, Jaypee University of Engineering and Technology, A-B Road, Raghogarh, Guna, Madhya Pradesh, India ' Department of Humanities and Social Science, Jaypee University of Engineering and Technology, A-B Road, Raghogarh, Guna, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract: Escalating stress, depression and suicidal attempts in universities have led to the increased importance of research into the impact of perceived stress, support, work-life balance and life satisfaction amongst engineering graduates. This study is an initiative to assess the dimensions of work-life balance among university graduates and finding its impact on their overall life satisfaction. Additionally, this study investigates the joint effects of social support and stress on the work-life balance and the likely mediating effect of work-life balance on support-satisfaction relationship using structural equation modelling approach. A self-report questionnaire was administered to collect primary data from 232 final year engineering students. Findings indicate a significant positive relationship between variables like social support, work-life balance and life satisfaction while stress has a negative impact on work-life balance and life satisfaction among students. However, the relationship between social support and life satisfaction is partially mediated by work-life balance of graduates. Limitations of this research and the implications to both work-life balance literature and engineering graduates are discussed in accordance with the findings.

Keywords: social support; stress; life satisfaction; work-life balance; engineering; student; college student; education; quality of life; graduates; structural equation modelling; school-life balance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHD.2018.090489

International Journal of Happiness and Development, 2018 Vol.4 No.1, pp.25 - 39

Received: 05 Sep 2016
Accepted: 22 Mar 2017
Published online: 19 Mar 2018 *

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