1887
Volume 2025, Issue 2
  • EISSN: 2309-3927

Abstract

Studies have highlighted the importance of work-life balance (WLB) and well-being across various fields. Some studies have highlighted that a good WLB is crucial for social, psychological, and physical well-being. However, few studies have focused on the experience of welfare workers’ WLB and wellbeing in Qatar. This study, using exploratory qualitative research probes, yields in-depth responses about the experience of welfare workers’ WLB and well-being in Qatar. The welfare workers who participated in the research possess a wealth of experience in the fields of social work, psychology, and sociology, with backgrounds in schools, research, mental health, behavioral services, and women’s and children’s services. The researcher held semi-structured face-to-face and virtual interviews with these 11 participants by open-ended questions, which they responded to in their own words. The researcher used thematic analysis to analyze the data as qualitative research. Ethics approval was granted by the host institution and the study complied with the Code of Human Research Ethics (BPS) 2021. Based on data analysis, the final three superordinate themes were identified: Demands of work, elements that contribute positively, and challenges to well-being. The study revealed that the demands of work influence the achievement of WLB and the well-being of welfare workers. Some elements contribute positively to achieving WLB and well-being among the welfare workers, such as spirituality, social support, satisfaction with work, and participating in some activities. The results show that welfare workers struggle to maintain psychological well-being and health. The findings suggest how improvements could be made to their field for the future, specifically in Qatar. Moreover, the researcher would like to encourage research colleagues to conduct intervention studies and programs in which the importance of social, psychological, and physical working conditions, WLB, and achieving well-being are highlighted.

© 2025 The Author(s), licensee HBKU Press.
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Work-life balance and well-being of welfare workers in Qatar: A qualitative study
Doha International Family Institute Journal 2025, 12 (2025); https://doi.org/10.5339/difi.2025.12
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Keyword(s): work-life balance, well-being, welfare workers, Qatar

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