The Wellbeing Equation: Work-Life, Support, and Satisfaction in Policing
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12724/ajss.76.2Keywords:
Work-life balance, Well-being, Job satisfaction, Police personnel, Social supportAbstract
Policing is characterized by high occupational demands that often disrupt work–life balance (WLB). Grounded in Conservation of Resources (COR) theory and Work–Family Enrichment theory, this study examine the structural relationships between perceived social support, job satisfaction, and WLB among police personnel in Bengaluru, India. A cross-sectional survey of 400 officers was conducted using stratified random sampling, and Structural Equation Modelling was employed to test direct and indirect effects. The results indicated that social support significantly predicted job satisfaction and WLB. Job satisfaction also positively influenced WLB and partially mediated the relationship between social support and WLB. The findings highlight the importance of relational resources in promoting occupational and cross-domain well-being in high-demand professions.
References
Acoba, E. F. (2024). Social support and mental health: the mediatiing role of perceived stress. Frontiers in Psychology, 15(2024), 1-12. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1330720
Adhikari, U., & Gyawali, S. (2024). Does Work-Life Balance Predict Job Satisfaction? Journal of Tikapur Multiple Campus, 7(1-2), 39-54. https://doi.org/10.3126/jotmc.v7i1-2.63171
Alsakarneh, A., Fraihat, B. A., Otoom, A., Mustafa, S. M., Nawasra, M., & Eneizan, B. (2022). How to Motivate Employees to Perform Better? The Impact of Social Support on Employees’ Performance in the Hotel Industry. Journal of System and Management Sciences, 12(6), 487-510. https://doi.org/10.33168/JSMS.2022.0629
Andersen, L. P., Elklit, A., & Pihl-Thingvad, J. (2023). Crisis social support after work-related violence and threats and risk for depressive symptoms: a 3-months follow-up study. BMC Psychology volume, 11(42(2023)). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01081-x
Antunes, R. J., Schlosser, D. F., Picinin, C. T., & Pilatti, L. A. (2024). Determinants of Work-Life Balance Among Police Officers: a Systematic Review Study. Revista De Gestão Social E Ambiental, 18(3), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.24857/rgsa.v18n3-16
Aruldoss, A., Kowalski, K. B., & Parayitam, S. (2020). The relationship between quality of work life and work-life-balance mediating role of job stress, job satisfaction and job commitment: Evidence from India. Journal of Advances in Management Research, 18(1), 36–62. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMR-05-2020-0082
Bentler, P. M. (1990). Comparative fit indexes in structural models. Psychological Bulletin, 107(2), 238–246. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.107.2.238
Brough, P., O'Driscoll, M., Kalliath, T., Siu, O., Sit, C., & Lo, D. (2015). Positive pathways to engaging workers: work–family enrichment as a predictor of work engagement. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 53, 490-510. https://doi.org/10.1111/1744-7941.12066
Brough, P., Timms, C., O’Driscoll, M. P., Kalliath, T., Siu, O. L., Sit, C., & Lo, D. (2014). Work–life balance: A longitudinal evaluation of a new measure across Australia and New Zealand workers. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 25(19), 2724–2744. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2014.899262
Cobb, S. (1976). Social Support as a Moderator of Life Stress. Psychosomatic Medicine, 38(5), 300-314. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-197609000-00003
Cochran, W. G. (1977). Sampling Techniques (3 ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
De Clercq, D., Brieger, S., & Welzel, C. (2021). Leveraging the macro-level environment to balance work and life: An analysis of female entrepreneurs’ job satisfaction. Small Business Economics, 56(4), 1361–1384. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-019-00287-x
Dhanush, M. R., & Shobha, C. (2023). Impact of Excessive Workload on the Work-Life Balance of Police Personnel in Karnataka. Dharana - Bhavan's International Journal of Business, 14(Combined issue), 71-78. https://doi.org/10.18311/dbijb/2023/34337
Dhanush, M. R., & Shobha, C. (2024). Perspectives on work-life integration: A descriptive study on theoretical frameworks. Indian Journal of Psychology, 1(2024), 106-114. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5129222
Dhanush, M. R., & Shobha, C. (2025). The Uniform Ripple Effect: Work-Family Spillover and Crossover Dynamics Among Policemen. The Academic, 3(Special Issue 1), 515-526. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17306784
Ellickson, M., & Logsdon, K. (2001). Determinants of job satisfaction of municipal government employees. State Local Government Review, 33(3), 173–184.
Ford, M. T., Heinen, B. A., & Langkamer, K. L. (2007). Work and family satisfaction and conflict: a meta-analysis of cross-domain relations. Journal of Applied Psychology, 92(57). https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.92.1.57
Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39-50. https://doi.org/10.2307/3151312
Gariepy, G., Honkaniemi, H., & Quesnel-Vallee, A. (2016). Social support and protection from depression: systematic review of current findings in Western countries. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 209, 284–293.
Garmendia, P., Fernández-Salinero, S., González, A. I., & Topa, G. (2023). Social Support and Its Impact on Job Satisfaction and Emotional Exhaustion. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education (EJIHPE), 13(12), 2827-2840. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe13120195
Gowda, R. (2024). The New Indian Express. Retrieved from The New Indian Express: https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2024/May/27/3800-vacancies-in-city-police-but-karnataka-govt-drags-its-feet
Greenhaus, J. H., & Powell, G. N. (2006). When work and family are allies: a theory of work-family enrichment. Academy of Management Review, 31, 72-92.
Greenhaus, J. H., Collins, K. M., & Shaw, J. D. (2003). The relation between work-family balance and quality of life. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 63, 510–531.
Haar, J. M., & Bardoel, E. A. (2008). Positive spillover from the work—family interface: A study of Australian employees. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 46, 275-287. https://doi.org/10.1177/1038411108095759
Hair, J. F., Black, W., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2010). Multivariate Data Analysis: A Global Perspective. Pearson.
Hobfoll, S. E. (1989). Conservation of resources: A new attempt at conceptualizing stress. American Psychologist, 44(3), 513-524. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.44.3.513
Hobfoll, S. E., & Stokes, J. P. (1988). The process and mechanism of social support. The handbook of research in personal relationships, 497-517.
Jolly, P. M., Kong, D. T., & Kim, K. Y. (2020). Social support at work: An integrative review. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 42, 229-251. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2485
Jung, J. H., Ang, S., & Choi, G. (2024). Social Support in the Workplace, Praying for Others, and Job Satisfaction. Review of Religious Research, 67(1), 70-87. https://doi.org/10.1177/0034673X241288808
Kauser, T. (2016). Role conflict, occupational stress and coping strategies among police personnel of Chennai city. Ph. D Thesis, Pondicherry University, Home Science, Chennai. Retrieved 2021, from https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/handle/10603/245779
Kose, S., Baykal, B., & Bayat, I. K. (2021). Mediator role of resilience in the relationship between social support and work life balance. Australian Journal of Psychology, 73, 316-325. https://doi.org/10.1080/00049530.2021.1895678
Kurtuluş, E., Kurtuluş, H. Y., Birel, S., & Batmaz, H. (2023). The Effect of Social Support on WorkLife Balance: The Role of Psychological Well-Being. International Journal of Contemporary Educational Research, 10(1), 239-249. https://doi.org/10.33200/ijcer.1152323
Lambert, E. G., Qureshi, H., & Frank, J. (2021). The good life: Exploring the effects job stress, job involvement, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment on the life satisfaction of police officers. International Journal of Police Science & Management, 23(3), 279–292. https://doi.org/10.1177/14613557211016494
Malik, M. I., Saif, M. I., Fern, S., Gomez, O., Khan, N. M., & Hussain, S. (2010). Balancing work and family through social support among working women in Pakistan. African Journal of Business Management, 4, 2864-2870.
Marcinkus, W. C., Whelan-Berry, K. S., & Gordon, J. R. (2007). The relationship of social support to the work‐family balance and work outcomes of midlife women. Women in Management Review, 22, 86-111. https://doi.org/10.1108/09649420710732060
Rousseau, V., & Aubé, C. (2010). Social Support at Work and Affective Commitment to the Organization: The Moderating Effect of Job Resource Adequacy and Ambient Conditions. Journal of Social Psychology, 150, 321-340. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224540903365380
Sandhya, D. S. (2024). A conceptual framework for the work–life balance of police officers: A post-COVID-19 perspective. Cogent Business & Management, 11(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2304429
Santiago, P. H., Smithers, L. G., Roberts, R., & Jamieson, L. (2023). Psychometric properties of the Social Support Scale (SSS) in two Aboriginal samples. PLOS ONE, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279954
Setiawan, R., Munthe, R. G., & Aprillia, A. (2019). Influences of social support on job satisfaction and organizational commitment. In Global Competitiveness: Business Transformation in the Digital Era. Taylor & Francis Group. https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429202629
Shahid, S. A., Amdan, S., Alwi, A., Syazreena, F., & Hassan, C. N. (2016). Social Support, Negative Affectivity, and Work Personal Life Balance of Academics. International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, 6(7), 500-504.
Sigursteinsdóttir, H., & Karlsdottir, F. B. (2022). Does Social Support Matter in the Workplace? Social Support, Job Satisfaction, Bullying and Harassment in the Workplace during COVID-19. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH), 19(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19084724
Staines, G. L. (1980). Spillover versus compensation: A review of the literature on the relationship between work and nonwork. Human relations, 33(2), 111-129. https://doi.org/10.1177/001872678003300203
Tadampali, A. C., & Hadi, A. (2017). The Effect of Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment on Work Engagement and Performance . Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research , 149, 55-57.
Tucker, L. R., & Lewis, C. (1973). A reliability coefficient for maximum likelihood factor analysis. Psychometrika, 38(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291170
Turner, R. J. (1981). Social Support as a Contingency in Psychological Well-Being. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 22(4), 357-367. https://doi.org/10.2307/2136677
Van Gelderen, B. R., Konjin, E. A., & Bakker, A. B. (2017). Emotional labor among police officers: A diary study relating strain, emotional labor strategies, and job satisfaction. Journal of Criminal Justice, 51, 64-73.
Viegas, V., & Henriques, J. (2020). Job stress and work-family conflict as correlates of job satisfaction among police officials. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 36(2), 227–235. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-020-09388-w
Wolter, C., Maria, A. S., Gusy, B., Lesener, T., Kleiber, D., & Renneberg, B. (2019). Social support and work engagement in police work: The mediating role of work–privacy conflict and self-efficacy. Policing: An International Journal, 42(6), 1022-1037. https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-10-2018-0154
Yucel, D. (2020). Different types of work–family balance, social support, and job satisfaction: A latent class analysis. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 16(3), 1343–1368. https://doi.org/ https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-020-09812-7
Zhang, L., Lin, Y., & Wan, F. (2015). Social Support and Job Satisfaction: Elaborating the Mediating Role of Work-Family Interface. Current Psychology, 34, 781–790. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-014-9290-x
Zimet, G., Dahlem, N. W., Zimet, S. G., & Farley, G. K. (1988). The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Journal of Personality Assessment, 52(1), 30-41. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa5201_2
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Artha Journal of Social Sciences
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
