Work–life balance in the higher education sector: A systematic literature review

Abstract

Orientation: Academics in higher education (HE) are struggling to strike a balance between work and family life because of excessive work demands, as well as family life pressures.
Research purpose: The aim of the study was to provide a comprehensive synthesis and critical evaluation of the literature that currently exists regarding academics’ work–life balance (WLB) within higher education institutions, as well as providing an evidence-based state of knowledge on the subject, major themes, contradictions or research gaps.
Motivation for the study: The motivation for this study stems from the growing emphasis on WLB in HE, where faculty members face distinct challenges and demands.
Research approach/design and method: The literature review focused on the literature in HE through reviewed articles from 2000 to 2025. The review selected a sample of 112 journal articles from databases that included Web of Science, Directory of Open Access Journals, ScienceDirect, Education Resources Information Centre, PsycINFO and Scopus that focused on faculty or academics in HE.
Main findings: The results of this review are summarised in four thematic clusters: the antecedents of imbalance, the psychological and organisational consequences, the intervention strategies and the contextual moderators. The majority of the studies were based in Western countries and fewer from the Global South.
Practical/managerial implications: Higher education institutions need to consider moving away from generic policies to provide tailored interventions. They should consider developing flexible work arrangements that are co-designed with employees, and create robust, context-sensitive institutional support systems.
Contribution/value-add: An integrated conceptual framework that outlines the interconnection of Border, Conflict, and Zedeck and Mosier’s model, and contemporary drivers of imbalance. Comparative studies and the design of WLB frameworks for academics working in developing economies are necessary.