IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/palcom/v11y2024i1d10.1057_s41599-024-04338-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Who they are, and what they do: perspectives on work–life balance among entrepreneurs and wage earners

Author

Listed:
  • Ayanna Stephens

    (University of the Commonwealth Caribbean)

  • Abede Mack

    (St. Francis Xavier University)

  • Priscilla Bahaw

    (University of the West Indies)

Abstract

Work–life balance (WLB) remains a pressing challenge in today’s fast-paced society. The current study addresses this prominent issue by examining whether employment type and individual characteristics shape perceptions of WLB among entrepreneurs and wage earners in Trinidad and Tobago. A structured survey was administered to a sample of entrepreneurs and wage earners and responses (n = 364) were statistically analysed to determine the main and interaction effects of employment type, age, ethnicity, relationship status, and sex on perceived WLB. Perceptions of WLB were lower among wage earners, though the observed differences were nonsignificant. Age and ethnicity emerged as significant main predictors of perceived WLB, with older persons and those of mixed ethnic backgrounds reporting higher levels of WLB. These main effects were moderated by the presence of a three-way interaction effect (sex × ethnicity × employment type) at p = 0.001. Our findings suggest that WLB is an intricate phenomenon that is not exclusively dependent on the occupational form, nor on an individual’s demographic composition but rather derived from the complex interactions between these two categories of variables. Thus, while entrepreneurship and wage employment both have the potential to improve standard of living, engaging in one type of employment versus the other may have an enhancing or diminishing effect on WLB based on life stages, ethnic affiliations and, possibly, other personal factors. This study’s findings also point to a need for more family-friendly policies and family-supportive working environments in Trinidad and Tobago. Though we move the field forward by addressing a critical gap in the literature, the explanatory variables tested in this study accounted for only 33.5% of the variance in the respondents’ WLB scores. We offer suggestions to overcome this limitation and others so that future studies can produce more nuanced and generalizable causal inferences.

Suggested Citation

  • Ayanna Stephens & Abede Mack & Priscilla Bahaw, 2024. "Who they are, and what they do: perspectives on work–life balance among entrepreneurs and wage earners," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:11:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-04338-x
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-024-04338-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-024-04338-x
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41599-024-04338-x?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kirkwood, Jodyanne & Tootell, Beth, 2008. "Is entrepreneurship the answer to achieving work–family balance?," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 14(3), pages 285-302, July.
    2. Seguino, Stephanie, 2003. "Why are women in the Caribbean so much more likely than men to be unemployed?," MPRA Paper 6507, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Preeya Mohan & Patrick Watson & Eric Strobl, 2018. "Nascent Entrepreneurs In Caribbean Small Island Developing States: Opportunity Versus Necessity," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 23(04), pages 1-18, December.
    4. Francesca Maria Cesaroni & Paola Paoloni, 2016. "Are family ties an opportunity or an obstacle for women entrepreneurs? Empirical evidence from Italy," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 2(1), pages 1-7, December.
    5. Abede Jawara Mack & Daniel White & Osiris Senghor, 2021. "The benefits of exposing post-secondary students to entrepreneurship training in Trinidad and Tobago," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-10, December.
    6. Robert W. Fairlie & Bruce D. Meyer, 2000. "Trends in Self-Employment among White and Black Men during the Twentieth Century," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 35(4), pages 643-669.
    7. Jensine Paoletti & Jaye L. Derrick & Christopher P. Fagundes & Kenneth E. Leonard, 2022. "The Effects of Strain-Based Work–Parenting Conflict on Dual Income Couples’ Energy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-13, July.
    8. W. Allen & William Curington, 2014. "The Self-Employment of Men and Women: What are their Motivations?," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 35(2), pages 143-161, June.
    9. Zhao, Hao & O'Connor, Gina & Wu, Jihong & Lumpkin, G.T., 2021. "Age and entrepreneurial career success: A review and a meta-analysis," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 36(1).
    10. Gülgönül Bozoğlu Batı & İsmail Hakkı Armutlulu, 2020. "Work and family conflict analysis of female entrepreneurs in Turkey and classification with rough set theory," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(1), pages 1-12, December.
    11. Frederic Delmar & Per Davidsson, 2000. "Where do they come from? Prevalence and characteristics of nascent entrepreneurs," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(1), pages 1-23, January.
    12. Stephen R. Porter, 2007. "A Closer Look at Faculty Service: What Affects Participation on Committees?," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 78(5), pages 523-541, September.
    13. Charles Stephen Tundui & Christopher Shiganza, 2021. "Determinants of entrepreneurial behaviour in the public sector in Tanzania: a case of water services provision," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 11(1), pages 189-199, December.
    14. Elyakim Kislev, 2023. "Relationship-Status and Work-Life Balance Satisfaction: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(2), pages 1115-1142, April.
    15. Arielle John & Virgil Henry Storr, 2013. "Ethnicity and self-employment in Trinidad and Tobago: an empirical assessment," International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 18(2), pages 173-193.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nicholas Litsardopoulos & George Saridakis & Yannis Georgellis & Chris Hand, 2023. "Self-employment experience effects on well-being: A longitudinal study," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 44(2), pages 454-480, May.
    2. Ingrid C. Chadwick & Alexandra Dawson, 2024. "From imposter fears to authenticity: a typology of women entrepreneurs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(3), pages 1025-1050, March.
    3. Saridakis, George & Marlow, Susan & Storey, David J., 2014. "Do different factors explain male and female self-employment rates?," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 29(3), pages 345-362.
    4. Isabel Grilo & Roy Thurik, 2008. "Determinants of entrepreneurial engagement levels in Europe and the US," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 17(6), pages 1113-1145, December.
    5. Clara Cardone-Riportella & María José Casasola-Martinez & Isabel Feito-Ruiz, 2014. "Do Entrepreneurs Come From Venus Or Mars? Impact Of Postgraduate Studies: Gender And Family Business Background," Working Papers 14.04, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Department of Financial Economics and Accounting (former Department of Business Administration), revised Sep 2014.
    6. Kranzusch, Peter & Kay, Rosemarie, 2011. "Das Gründerpanel des IfM Bonn: Konzeption und Nutzungsmöglichkeiten," IfM-Materialien 208, Institut für Mittelstandsforschung (IfM) Bonn.
    7. Nicholas Apergis & Irene Fafaliou, 2014. "The determinants of business start-ups in tertiary education: evidence for Greece through a panel data approach," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 38(2), pages 287-301, April.
    8. Carla Daniela Calá & Miguel Manjón-Antolín & Josep-Maria Arauzo-Carod, 2016. "Regional determinants of firm entry in a developing country," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 95(2), pages 259-279, June.
    9. Carlos Bazan, 2022. "Effect of the University’s Environment and Support System on Subjective Social Norms as Precursor of the Entrepreneurial Intention of Students," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(4), pages 21582440221, October.
    10. R. Sandra Schillo & Ajax Persaud & Meng Jin, 2016. "Entrepreneurial readiness in the context of national systems of entrepreneurship," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 46(4), pages 619-637, April.
    11. K. Poehlmann & R. Helm & O. Mauroner & J. Auburger, 2021. "Corporate spin-offs’ success factors: management lessons from a comparative empirical analysis with research-based spin-offs," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(6), pages 1767-1796, August.
    12. Nicos Nicolaou & Scott Shane, 2019. "Common genetic effects on risk-taking preferences and choices," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 261-279, December.
    13. Nan Langowitz & Maria Minniti, 2007. "The Entrepreneurial Propensity of Women," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 31(3), pages 341-364, May.
    14. Niklas Elert, 2014. "What determines entry? Evidence from Sweden," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 53(1), pages 55-92, August.
    15. Sander Wennekers & Roy Thurik & André Stel & Niels Noorderhaven, 2010. "Uncertainty Avoidance and the Rate of Business Ownership Across 21 OECD Countries, 1976–2004," Springer Books, in: Andreas Freytag & Roy Thurik (ed.), Entrepreneurship and Culture, chapter 0, pages 271-299, Springer.
    16. Inessa Love & Boris Nikolaev & Chandra Dhakal, 2024. "The well-being of women entrepreneurs: the role of gender inequality and gender roles," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(1), pages 325-352, January.
    17. Sander Wennekers & André Stel & Roy Thurik & Paul Reynolds, 2008. "Nascent entrepreneurship and the level of economic development," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 30(3), pages 325-325, March.
    18. Xiaoyu Yu & Xiaotong Meng & Laura Stanley & Franz W. Kellermanns, 2024. "Self-employment and life satisfaction: The contingent role of formal institutions," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(1), pages 135-163, June.
    19. Sophia Belghiti-Mahut & Anne-Laurence Lafont & Angélique Rodhain & Florence Rodhain, 2020. "Women’s entrepreneurial narrative : making sense of the partner’s role," Post-Print hal-03084749, HAL.
    20. Tha�s Garc�a-Pereiro & Ivano Dileo, 2017. "Gender Differences In Entrepreneurial Activities In Italy," RIEDS - Rivista Italiana di Economia, Demografia e Statistica - The Italian Journal of Economic, Demographic and Statistical Studies, SIEDS Societa' Italiana di Economia Demografia e Statistica, vol. 71(3), pages 31-40, July-Sept.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:11:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-04338-x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.nature.com/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.