Work-life balance among academics: do gender and personality traits really matter?

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between personality traits and work-life balance; and also examined gender differences on the capacity to balance work and life roles among academics. Data were collected from a total of 238 (M=148; F=90) academic staff members of a Nigerian University using the stratified random sampling procedure. Results showed that personality traits significantly predicted work-life balance. Dimensions of personality traits, like agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experience were found to be significantly related to work-life balance. However, extraversion and neuroticism did not have any significant relationship with work-life balance. There was no significant gender difference in the capacity to balance work-life balance among academics. The study concluded that the traits of agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experience were related feature of academics that are capable of balancing work and life roles despite huge demands from these two important domains.