Organisational and social work environment factors and occupational balance as predictors of work and life satisfaction among Swedish principals who are also parents to small children.

Abstract

Background: In Sweden, managers, individuals working within education, and parents with small children are three groups at high risk for sick leave due to stress-related mental health problems. However, the combined risk of being a parent and manager working within education, i.e., as a principal, on individual work and life satisfaction is not well understood or well-described in the scientific literature. Accordingly, the present study aimed to examine to what extent indicators for occupational balance and organisational and social work environment factors are predictors of work and life satisfaction among Swedish school principals who are also parents to small children.

Methods: A prospective longitudinal study design was used, and data were collected with a one-year interval (T1 and T2) using a web survey. The participants (n = 149) had at least one child under 8 years old and answered the survey at T1 and T2. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate how predictors at T1 determined the reporting of work and life satisfaction at T2.

Results: Supportive organisational structures and few role conflicts at T1 predicted work satisfaction at T2, and supportive organisational structures and a perception of occupational balance at T1 predicted life satisfaction at T2. Adjusted for outcomes at T1, supportive organisational structures and occupational balance still remained predictors.

Conclusions: Supportive organisational structures that clearly define authority and areas of responsibility, and few role conflicts appear to be important for reporting higher work satisfaction among Swedish principals with small children. In addition, high occupational balance and supportive organisational structures that clearly define authority and areas of responsibility also appear to be important for reporting higher life satisfaction. These results suggest that employers of principals with small children may help them by taking action in the above-mentioned areas. The principals themselves could also benefit from being attentive to these issues. Both are important for strengthening public health and preventing sick leave.