An exploratory study into the work-life balance of self-employed mothers who work full-time from home

Boyd, Janine (2019) An exploratory study into the work-life balance of self-employed mothers who work full-time from home. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

This study explores the work-life balance of self-employed mothers who work full-time from home. The relationship that revolves around both personal and working lives when self-employed and working from home provides a rich narrative for exploration. The aim of the study is to understand the interpretations and subjective experiences of self-employed mothers who work full-time from home.

The researcher developed a conceptual framework that outlined the elements that can influence the work-life balance of self-employed mothers. This conceptual framework was guided by the situationalist perspective on work-life balance. It was also guided by the concept of work-life fit (Moen, Kelly and Huang, 2008). The proposed conceptual framework provided a structure to the study that tied all parts together. Using an interpretive research philosophy, qualitative semi-structured interviews with 8 self-employed mothers who worked full-time from home, were based around the elements contained in the conceptual framework. Qualitative thematic analysis of these interviews resulted in the emergence of the main themes as stated below:
- Work revolves around life
- Boundaries
- Client demands
- Resources: flexibility and support

The above themes were used to maintain, manage and control a WLB that suited each particular individual. The implications of these findings followed previous research in studies undertaken in WLB and self-employment full time from home (Hilbrecht and Lero, 2014).

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Issues of Labour and Work > Quality of Work Life / Job Satisfaction H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Issues of Labour and Work > Classes of Labour > Women and Work
Divisions:	School of Business > Master of Arts in Human Resource Management
Depositing User:	Caoimhe Ní Mhaicín
Date Deposited:	15 Oct 2019 13:53
Last Modified:	15 Oct 2019 13:53
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/3907

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