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Journals / Yükseköğretim Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 16 Sayı: 1

Determinants of Work-Life Balance in Higher Education

Yükseköğretimde İş-Yaşam Dengesinin Belirleyicileri

Büşra Koru Uzkurt(POLİS AKADEMİSİ, TRAFİK ENSTİTÜSÜ)0000-0002-7235-4030
Pages
65–82
Publication Date
2026-03-18
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

A balanced work-life structure reduces burnout and positively affects academic productivity and organizational performance.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Ensuring work-life balance for academics is important in terms of creating a sustainable academic environment at both individual and institutional levels.
📊
Key Findings & Data:A total of 56 studies were examined, and the findings of the study systematically reveal the factors that disrupt and support the work-life balance of academics.
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Conclusion & Impact:A balanced work-life structure reduces burnout and positively affects academic productivity and organizational performance.
🔬Design:Review & Systematic Survey
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:İş-Yaşam Dengesi · Yükseköğretimde İş-Yaşam Dengesi · Sistematik Analiz

Abstract

Ensuring work-life balance for academics is important in terms of creating a sustainable academic environment at both individual and institutional levels. This study conducted a systematic review in order to determine the factors affecting the work-life balance of academics working in the higher education sector and to investigate the results at physical, psychological and organizational levels. Within the scope of the study, three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science) were scanned, and the analysis of the data was done in a multi-stage process using Rayyan software. A total of 56 studies were examined, and the findings of the study systematically reveal the factors that disrupt and support the work-life balance of academics. According to the findings of the research, gender (female), pandemic, excessive workload, burnout and unlimited working hours are the prominent factors in the deterioration of the balance. This situation leads to psychological and physical health problems such as stress, depression, low quality of life, and organizational negativities such as intention to quit and loss of productivity. In contrast, factors such as flexible working, organizational support, mentoring, and family-friendly policies improve work-life balance, increasing employee motivation, engagement, and productivity. A balanced work-life structure reduces burnout and positively affects academic productivity and organizational performance.

Özet

Akademisyenler için iş-yaşam dengesinin sağlanması hem bireysel hem de kurumsal düzeyde sürdürülebilir bir akademik ortam yaratmak açısından önem taşımaktadır. Bu çalışma, yükseköğretim sektöründe çalışan akademisyenlerin iş-yaşam dengesini etkileyen faktörleri belirlemek ve fiziksel, psikolojik ve örgütsel düzeylerdeki sonuçlarını araştırma amacıyla sistematik bir inceleme yapmıştır. Çalışma kapsamında üç elektronik veri tabanı (PubMed, Scopus ve Web of Science) taranmış, verilerin analizi Rayyan yazılımı kullanılarak çok aşamalı bir süreçle yapılmıştır. Toplam 56 çalışma incelenmiş olup, çalışmanın bulguları, akademisyenlerin iş-yaşam dengesini bozan ve destekleyen faktörleri sistematik olarak ortaya koymaktadır. Araştırma bulgularına göre cinsiyet (kadın), pandemi, aşırı iş yükü, tükenmişlik ve sınırsız çalışma saatleri, dengenin bozulmasında öne çıkan unsurlardır. Bu durum, stres, depresyon, düşük yaşam kalitesi gibi psikolojik ve fiziksel sağlık sorunlarına ve işten ayrılma niyeti, verimlilik kaybı gibi örgütsel olumsuzluklara yol açmaktadır. Buna karşılık, esnek çalışma, örgütsel destek, mentorluk ve aile dostu politikalar gibi faktörler, iş-yaşam dengesini iyileştirerek çalışanların motivasyonunu, bağlılığını ve verimliliğini artırmaktadır. Dengeli bir iş-yaşam yapısı, tükenmişliği azaltırken, akademik üretkenliği ve örgütsel performansı olumlu yönde etkilemektedir.

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Cite This Article

Uzkurt, B. K. (2026). Determinants of Work-Life Balance in Higher Education. Yükseköğretim Dergisi, Cilt: 16 Sayı: 1, 65–82. https://doi.org/10.53478/yuksekogretim.1702699

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