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Sources of Wellbeing Amongst Saudi Arabian Women Academic Leaders: An Explorative Study

Author

Listed:
  • Rasis Alanazi

    (Department of Psychology, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia)

  • Claire Alkouatli

    (Educational Futures, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, Australia)

Abstract

Although Saudi Arabian women increasingly attain leadership positions in a national reform movement, few studies have examined their wellbeing during this time of cultural change. Contributing to filling this gap, we engaged ten Saudi women academic leaders in semi-structured interviews, inquiring into their perspectives on wellbeing. Three thematic sources of wellbeing—ecological building blocks, spiritual wellsprings, and eudaimonic motivations—highlight that these Saudi women leaders are drawing from varied sources, from skydiving or culturally unique iterations of ‘me time’ to socio-spiritual activities and relationships. The women identified stresses including balancing ageing parents and young children with their high-pressure positions and co-workers with outdated mindsets. Describing their work as social contributions, acts of worship, and charitable offerings of knowledge, the women’s voices counter stereotypes while illuminating culturally specific sources of wellbeing across life domains.

Suggested Citation

  • Rasis Alanazi & Claire Alkouatli, 2023. "Sources of Wellbeing Amongst Saudi Arabian Women Academic Leaders: An Explorative Study," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-14, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsoctx:v:13:y:2023:i:4:p:88-:d:1113638
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Maleeha Mohammed Zaaf Al-Qahtani & Tarek Tawfik Yousef Alkhateeb & Haider Mahmood & Manal Abdalla Zahed Abdalla & Thikkryat Jebril Obaid Talalah Qaralleh, 2020. "The Role of the Academic and Political Empowerment of Women in Economic, Social and Managerial Empowerment: The Case of Saudi Arabia," Economies, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-19, June.
    2. Azzah Alsubaie & Karen Jones, 2017. "An Overview of the Current State of Women’s Leadership in Higher Education in Saudi Arabia and a Proposal for Future Research Directions," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Hoda Jradi & Oraynab Abouabbas, 2017. "Well-Being and Associated Factors among Women in the Gender-Segregated Country," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Ed Diener & Shigehiro Oishi & Louis Tay, 2018. "Advances in subjective well-being research," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 2(4), pages 253-260, April.
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