ORIGINAL PAPER
Work-related Internet use as a threat to work-life balance – a comparison between the emerging on-line professions and traditional office work
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Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland
(Department of Health and Work Psychology)
Online publication date: 2019-11-06
Corresponding author
Aleksandra Jacukowicz
Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Department of Health and Work Psychology, św. Teresy 8, 91-348 Łódź,
Poland
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2020;33(1):21-33
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: In the present study, the authors focused on the comparison of work characteristics related to the possibility of striking the right work–
nonwork balance, as well as satisfaction with the actual work–life balance (WLB), negative work-to-home conflict and the quality of life related to
social relationships, between a new group of on-line workers (social media or e-marketing specialists, search engine optimization or search engine
marketing specialists, e-public relations experts etc.) and traditional office workers. Material and Methods: The authors conducted a questionnaire
study covering 189 on-line workers (whose work required permanent presence on-line) and 200 office workers (using the Internet mainly to communicate
with other departments and to search for information). Results: The results showed that the on-line workers reported a significantly lower
satisfaction with WLB and a higher negative work-home interaction. The authors found no differences as regards the social quality of life between
the studied groups. Conclusions: These findings confirm that technology advancement opens a new chapter in organizational psychology and occupational
health, especially in the context of the emerging on-line occupations. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2020;33(1):21–33