Journals / Uluslararası Yönetim İktisat ve İşletme Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 22 Sayı: 2

THE DYNAMICS OF HAPPINESS AT WORK: A STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT AND WORK-LIFE BALANCE IN HOSPITALITY ENTERPRISES

İŞTE MUTLULUĞUN DİNAMİKLERİ: OTEL İŞLETMELERİNDE ALGILANAN SOSYAL DESTEK VE İŞ-YAŞAM DENGESİNİN ETKİLERİ ÜZERİNE BİR ARAŞTIRMA

Esra Katırcıoğlu(ONDOKUZ MAYIS ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TURİZM FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0002-5941-553X
Olcay Özışık Yapıcı(Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi)0000-0002-5197-5313
Pages
759–779
Publication Date
2026-06-27
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

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

The findings revealed that perceived social support and work-life balance had positive effects on happiness at work.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:The main purpose of this study is to examine the effects of perceived social support and work-life balance on happiness at work.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Data were collected from 277 employees working at hotel enterprises in Samsun using the convenience sampling method and the survey technique.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:The findings revealed that perceived social support and work-life balance had positive effects on happiness at work.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:İşte mutluluk · Otel Çalışanları · Algılanan Sosyal Destek

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to examine the effects of perceived social support and work-life balance on happiness at work. Additionally, the study aims to determine the effect of perceived social support on work-life balance. The study was structured based on social support and spillover theories. Data were collected from 277 employees working at hotel enterprises in Samsun using the convenience sampling method and the survey technique. The findings revealed that perceived social support and work-life balance had positive effects on happiness at work. Furthermore, the study determined that perceived social support had a positive effect on work-life balance. Although happiness at work is generally accepted as a concept analysed in the context of organizational practices and working conditions, individuals’ social and psychological resources can also play a critical role in this process. In this context, the contribution of employees’ perceived social support to work-life balance and happiness at work can be considered an important finding, especially for hotel enterprises with their labour-intensive structure. A review of the existing literature reveals that there are a limited number of studies that address these variables together. Accordingly, it is believed that the findings obtained from this research will contribute to the literature.

Özet

Bu çalışmanın temel amacı algılanan sosyal destek ve iş-yaşam dengesinin işte mutluluk üzerindeki etkilerini incelemektir. Ayrıca, çalışma kapsamında algılanan sosyal desteğin iş-yaşam dengesi üzerindeki etkisinin belirlenmesi de hedeflenmektedir. Çalışma sosyal destek ve yayılma teorilerini temel alarak yapılandırılmıştır. Kolayda örnekleme yöntemi ile Samsun ilinde yer alan otel işletmelerinde görev yapan 277 otel çalışanından anket tekniği ile veri elde edilmiştir. Çalışma sonucunda, algılanan sosyal destek ve iş-yaşam dengesinin işte mutluluk üzerinde olumlu etkileri olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca, çalışma kapsamında algılanan sosyal desteğin iş-yaşam dengesi üzerinde olumlu bir etkisi olduğu tespit edilmiştir. İşte mutluluk, genellikle örgütsel uygulamalar ve çalışma koşulları bağlamında analiz edilen bir kavram olarak kabul edilse de, bireylerin sosyal ve psikolojik kaynakları da bu süreçte kritik rol oynamaktadır. Bu bağlamda, çalışanların sosyal destek algısının iş-yaşam dengesi ve işte mutluluğa olan katkısı özellikle emek yoğun yapısı ile otel işletmeleri için önemli bir bulgu olarak değerlendirilebilir. Mevcut literatür incelendiğinde, bu değişkenleri birlikte ele alan çalışmaların sınırlı olduğu görülmektedir. Bu doğrultuda, araştırma sonucunda elde edilen bulguların literatüre katkı sağlayacağı düşünülmektedir.

🔖

Cite This Article

Katırcıoğlu, E., Yapıcı, O. Ö. (2026). THE DYNAMICS OF HAPPINESS AT WORK: A STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT AND WORK-LIFE BALANCE IN HOSPITALITY ENTERPRISES. Uluslararası Yönetim İktisat ve İşletme Dergisi, Cilt: 22 Sayı: 2, 759–779. https://doi.org/10.17130/ijmeb.1713162

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (97)

  1. Akgunduz, Y., Bardakoglu, O., & Kizilcalioglu, G. (2023). Happiness, job stress, job dedication and perceived organizational support: a mediating model. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 6(2), 654-673.
  2. Al-Edenat, M., & Al Hawamdeh, N. (2024). Revisiting happiness at work within the hospitality sector: revealing the power of ethical leadership and group diversity. Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance, 12(4), 844–863.
  3. Ashkanasy, N. M., & Dorris, A. D. (2017). Emotions in the workplace. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 4(1), 67-90.
  4. Atan, A., Ozgit, H., & Silman, F. (2021). Happiness at work and motivation for a sustainable workforce: evidence from female hotel employees. Sustainability, 13(14), 7778.
  5. Bagozzi, R. P., & Yi, Y. (2012). Specification, evaluation, and interpretation of structural equation models. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 40, 8-34.
  6. Bani-Melhem, S., Zeffane, R., & Albaity, M. (2018). Determinants of employees’ innovative behavior. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 30(3), 1601-1620.
  7. Bataineh, K.A. (2019). Impact of work-life balance, happiness at work, on employee performance. International Business Research, 12(2), 99-112.
  8. Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (2017). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Interpersonal Development, 57-89.
  9. Brough, P., Timms, C., O'Driscoll, M. P., Kalliath, T., Siu, O. L., Sit, C., & Lo, D. (2014). Work–life balance: A longitudinal evaluation of a new measure across Australia and New Zealand workers. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 25(19), 2724-2744.
  10. Bui Thi, T., & Mai, Q. L. (2024). Work social support on hospitality employees’ career optimism and turnover intention. Tourism Review, 79(1), 119-132.
  11. Çetinkaya, Ö. (2021). Profesyonel turist rehberlerinin iş-yaşam dengesi ve tükenmişlik düzeylerinin çalışma motivasyonuna etkisi. (Doctoral Thesis). Retrieved from https://tez.yok.gov.tr Accessed: 17.05.2025.
  12. Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98(2), 310-357.
  13. Cohen, S., Gottlieb, B. H., & Underwood, L. G. (2000). Social relationships and health. In S. Cohen, L. Underwood, & B. H. Gottlieb (Eds.), Social support measurement and intervention: A guide for health and social scientists (pp. 3–25).
  14. Dhingra, V., & Dhingra, M. (2021). Who doesn’t want to be happy? Measuring the impact of factors influencing work–life balance on subjective happiness of doctors. Ethics, Medicine and Public Health, 16, 100630.
  15. Diener, E., & Seligman, M. E. (2002). Very happy people. Psychological Science, 13(1), 81-84.
  16. Diener, E., Thapa, S., & Tay, L. (2020). Positive emotions at work. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 7(1), 451-477.
  17. DiMaria, C. H., Peroni, C., & Sarracino, F. (2020). Happiness matters: Productivity gains from subjective well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 21(1), 139-160.
  18. Edwards, J. R., & Rothbard, N. P. (2000). Mechanisms linking work and family: Clarifying the relationship between work and family constructs. Academy of management review, 25(1), 178-199.
  19. Eker, D., & Arkar, H. (1995). Factorial structure, validity, and reliability of the multidimensional scale of perceived social support. Türk Psikoloji Dergisi, 10(34), 45-55
  20. Ekkekakis, P. (2012). Affect, mood, and emotion, in Tenenbaum, G.E., Eklund, R.C. and Kamata, A.E. (Eds), Measurement in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL, pp. 321-519.
  21. Erdwins, C. J., Buffardi, L. C., Casper, W. J., & O'Brien, A. S. (2001). The relationship of women's role strain to social support, role satisfaction, and self‐efficacy. Family Relations, 50(3), 230-238.
  22. Erkorkmaz, Ü., Etikan, İ., Demir, O., Özdamar, K., & Sanisoğlu, S. Y. (2013). Doğrulayıcı faktör analizi ve uyum indeksleri. Türkiye Klinikleri Journal of Medical Sciences, 33(1), 210-223.
  23. Ersoy, A., & Ehtiyar, R. (2017). Happiness at work. Developments in Social Sciences, 32, 375-86.
  24. Espasandín-Bustelo, F., Ganaza-Vargas, J., & Diaz-Carrion, R. (2021). Employee happiness and corporate social responsibility: The role of organizational culture. Employee Relations: The International Journal, 43(3), 609-629.
  25. Ferguson, M., Carlson, D., Zivnuska, S., & Whitten, D. (2012). Support at work and home: The path to satisfaction through balance. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 80(2), 299-307.
  26. Fisher, C. D. (2010). Happiness at work. International Journal of Management Reviews, 12(4), 384-412.
  27. Fitriana, N., Hutagalung, F. D., Awang, Z., & Zaid, S. M. (2022). Happiness at work: A cross-cultural validation of happiness at work scale. Plos One, 17(1), e0261617.
  28. Ford, T. E., Lappi, S. K., & Holden, C. J. (2016). Personality, humor styles and happiness: Happy people have positive humor styles. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 12(3), 320.
  29. George, D., & Mallery, M. (2010). Spss for windows step by step: A simple guide and reference, 17.0 update (10th edition). Pearson.
  30. Greenhaus, J. H., & Powell, G. N. (2006). When work and family are allies: A theory of work-family enrichment. Academy of Management Review, 31(1), 72-92.
  31. Guest, D. E. (2002). Perspectives on the study of work-life balance. Social Science Information, 41(2), 255-279.
  32. Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2009). Multivariate data analysis (7th ed.). Prentice-Hall
  33. Hendraswara, A. R., & Salendu, A. (2024). Workplace well-being in post-covid-19 Indonesia: Workplace loneliness and happiness at work with the moderating role of perceived social support. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research, 6(1), 01-18.
  34. Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. Journal of The Academy of Marketing Science, 43, 115-135.
  35. Hobfoll, S. E. (1989). Conservation of resources: a new attempt at conceptualizing stress. American Psychologist, 44(3), 513.
  36. Hurley, A. E., Scandura, T. A., Schriesheim, C. A., Brannick, M. T., Seers, A., Vandenberg, R. J., & Williams, L. J. (1997). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis: Guidelines, issues, and alternatives. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 667-683.
  37. Hwang, Y., Shi, X., & Wang, X. (2021). Hospitality employees’ emotions in the workplace: a systematic review of recent literature. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 33(10), 3752-3796.
  38. Jolly, P. M., Kong, D. T., & Kim, K. Y. (2021). Social support at work: An integrative review. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 42(2), 229-251.
  39. Joo, B. K., & Lee, I. (2017). Workplace happiness: Work engagement, career satisfaction, and subjective well-being. In Evidence-based HRM: A global forum for empirical scholarship, 5(2), 206-221. Emerald Publishing Limited.
  40. Jung, H. S., Hwang, Y. H., & Yoon, H. H. (2023). Impact of hotel employees’ psychological well-being on job satisfaction and pro-social service behavior: Moderating effect of work–life balance. Sustainability, 15(15), 11687.
  41. Kang, B., Twigg, N. W., & Hertzman, J. (2010). An examination of social support and social identity factors and their relationship to certified chefs’ burnout. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 29(1), 168-176.
  42. Kesebir, P., & Diener, E. (2008). In pursuit of happiness: Empirical answers to philosophical questions. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 3(2), 117-125.
  43. Keser, A. (2018). İşte mutluluk araştırması. Paradoks Ekonomi Sosyoloji ve Politika Dergisi, 14(1), 43-57.
  44. Kewalramani, S., & Ahirwar, M. S. (2018). Effect of self-efficacy, happiness and perceived social support. International Journal of Indian Psychology, 6(1), 107-125.
  45. Kim, K. S. (2019). The influence of hotels high-commitment hrm on job engagement of employees: Mediating effects of workplace happiness and mental health. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 14(2), 507-525.
  46. King, K. A., Vidourek, R. A., Merianous, A., & Singh, M. (2014). A study of stress, social support, and perceived happiness among college students. The Journal of Happiness & Well-Being, 2(2), 132-144.
  47. Knežević, S., Gajić, T., Sekulić, D., Djoković, F., Vukolić, D., & Zrnić, M. (2023). Work-life balance: A historical review and insights for the hospitality industry. Turističko Poslovanje, (32), 91-99.
  48. Kossek, E. E., & Lautsch, B. A. (2018). Work–life flexibility for whom? Occupational status and work–life inequality in upper, middle, and lower-level jobs. Academy of Management Annals, 12(1), 5-36.
  49. KTB-T.C. Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı Samsun İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü (2026). Turizm İşletme Belgeli Konaklama Tesisleri. Retrived from https://samsun.ktb.gov.tr/TR-60511/konaklama-ve-yeme-icme.html Accessed 27.01.2026.
  50. Kurtuluş, E., Kurtuluş, H. Y., Birel, S., & Batmaz, H. (2023). The effect of social support on work-life balance: The role of psychological well-being. International Journal of Contemporary Educational Research, 10(1), 239-249.
  51. Lakey, B., & Cohen, S. (2000). Social support theory and measurement. In S. Cohen, L. G. Underwood, & B. H. Gottlieb (Eds.). Social support measurement and intervention: A guide for health and social scientists (pp. 29–52). Oxford University Press.
  52. Lawson, K. M., Davis, K. D., Crouter, A. C., & O’Neill, J. W. (2013). Understanding work-family spillover in hotel managers. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 33, 273-281.
  53. Lee, P. C., Ge, L., & Zhou, T. (2025). Can social support help gritty hotel employees from burnout in the workplace?. Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality & Tourism, 1-23.
  54. Mashkoor, M., & Muhammad, L. (2024). Being happy pays off! positive affect shaping employee creativity in the hospitality industry through the lens of broaden-and-build theory. SAGE Open, 14(2), 21582440241259691.
  55. Misra, N., & Srivastava, S. (2022). Happiness at work: A psychological perspective. Happiness and Wellness, 95.
  56. Nicolò, G., Zanellato, G., Tiron-Tudor, A., & Polcini, P. T. (2022). Revealing the corporate contribution to sustainable development goals through integrated reporting: A worldwide perspective. Social Responsibility Journal, 19(5), 829-857.
  57. Oerlemans, W. G., & Bakker, A. B. (2018). Motivating job characteristics and happiness at work: A multilevel perspective. Journal of Applied Psychology, 103(11), 1230-1241.
  58. Oswald, A. J., Proto, E., & Sgroi, D. (2015). Happiness and productivity. Journal of Labor Economics, 33(4), 789-822.
  59. Özdamar, K. (2004). Tabloların oluşturulması, güvenirlik ve soru analizi. Paket programlarla istatistiksel veri analizi-1. 5th ed. Eskişehir: Kaan Kitabevi, 201(50), 117-150.
  60. Özdemir, B. (2022). Perceived organizational support and happiness at work: The role of psychological capital. Journal of Management and Economics Research, 20(1), 414-430.
  61. Padave, P., & Kanekar, R. (2023). Emprical study on organisational commitment of employees in Indian Hotel Industry. Materials Today: Proceedings, 80, 1946-1950.
  62. Pekdemir, I., & Koçoğlu, M. (2014). İşkoliklik ile iş yaşam dengesi arasındaki ilişkide kişilik özelliklerinin aracılık rolü üzerine bir araştırma, Abant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 14(1), 309-337.
  63. Pelit, E., & Katircioglu, E. (2022). Human resource management studies in hospitality and tourism domain: a bibliometric analysis. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 34(3), 1106-1134.
  64. Pichler, F. (2009). Determinants of work-life balance: Shortcomings in the contemporary measurement of WLB in large-scale surveys. Social Indicators Research, 92(3), 449-469.
  65. Polatçı, S., & Ünüvar, H. (2021). İşte mutluluk ölçeği: Bir ölçek geliştirme çalışması. Journal of Research in Business, 6(1), 177-202.
  66. Pryce-Jones, J., & Lindsay, J. (2014). What happiness at work is and how to use it. Industrial and Commercial Training, 46(3), 130-134.
  67. Ravina-Ripoll, R., Díaz-García, G. A., Ahumada-Tello, E., & Galván-Vela, E. (2024). Emotional wage, happiness at work and organisational justice as triggers for happiness management. Journal of Management Development, 43(2), 236-252.
  68. Rincy, V. M., & Panchanatham, N. (2014). Work life balance: A short review of the theoretical and contemporary concepts. Continental Journal of Social Sciences, 7(1), 1-24.
  69. Ryan, R. M., & Martela, F. (2016). Eudaimonia as a way of living: Connecting Aristotle with self-determination theory. Handbook of Eudaimonic Well-Being, 109-122.
  70. Ryan, R.M., & Deci, E.L. (2001). On happiness and human potentials: A review of research on hedonic and eudai-monic well-being. Annual Review of Psychology, 52,141–166.
  71. Salvadorinho, J., & Teixeira, L. (2023). Happy and engaged workforce in industry 4.0: a new concept of digital tool for HR based on theoretical and practical trends. Sustainability, 15(3), 2781.
  72. Saraswati, K.D.H.; Lie, D. (2020). Psychological well-being: The impact of work-life balance and work pressure. Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, 478, 580–587.
  73. Schreiber, J. B., Nora, A., Stage, F. K., Barlow, E. A., & King, J. (2006). Reporting structural equation modeling and confirmatory factor analysis results: A review. The Journal of Educational Research, 99(6), 323-338.
  74. Seligman, M.E.P. (1999). The President’s Address. American Psychologist, 54, 559-562.
  75. Senbursa, N., & Dunder, E. (2024). The mediating effect of well-being, happiness, and trust in the relationship between work-life balance and work effectiveness in seafarers. INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 61, 00469580241254745.
  76. Seo, Y. B., & Park, C. K. (2021). Effect of Work-Life Balance (WLB) and Superior Trust on Workplace Happiness and Organizational Commitment. Journal of Convergence for Information Technology, 11(10), 115-130.
  77. Sharma, S., & Parmar, J. S. (2015). Social support and its relationship to work-life balance- A study of medical professionals in government hospitals of Himachal Pradesh. Productivity, 56(1), 56–66.
  78. Sirgy, M. J., & Lee, D. J. (2016). Work-life balance: A quality-of-life model. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 11, 1059-1082.
  79. Soomro, A. A., Breitenecker, R. J., & Shah, S. A. M. (2018). Relation of work-life balance, work-family conflict, and family-work conflict with the employee performance-moderating role of job satisfaction. South Asian Journal of Business Studies, 7(1), 129-146.
  80. Srivastava, S., Mendiratta, A., Pankaj, P., Misra, R., & Mendiratta, R. (2022). Happiness at work through spiritual leadership: a self-determination perspective. Employee Relations: The International Journal, 44(4), 972-992.
  81. Stanley, S., & Sebastine, A. J. (2023). Work-life balance, social support, and burnout: A quantitative study of social workers. Journal of Social Work, 23(6), 1135-1155.
  82. Sun, X., Xu, H., Köseoglu, M. A., & Okumus, F. (2020). How do lifestyle hospitality and tourism entrepreneurs manage their work-life balance? International Journal of Hospitality Management, 85, 102359.
  83. Swanson, V., & Power, K. (2001). Employees' perceptions of organizational restructuring: The role of social support. Work & Stress, 15(2), 161-178.
  84. Thoits, P. A. (1985). Social support and psychological well-being: Theoretical possibilities. In Social support: Theory, research and applications (pp. 51-72). Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands.
  85. Thoits, P. A. (1995). Stress, coping, and social support processes: Where are we? What next? Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 53-79.
  86. Thompson, A., & Bruk-Lee, V. (2021). Employee happiness: Why we should care. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 16(4), 1419-1437.
  87. Türker, T. (2017). Work-life balance and social support as predictors of Burnout: An exploratory analysis. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 7(3), 118-138.
  88. Uddin, M., Ali, K. B., & Khan, M. A. (2020). Perceived social support (PSS) and work-life balance (WLB) in a developing country: The moderating impact of work-life policy. Interdisciplinary Journal of Management Studies, 13(4), 733-761.
  89. Warr, P. (2017). Happiness and mental health: A framework of vitamins in the environment and mental processes in the person. The handbook of stress and health: A guide to research and practice, 57-74.
  90. Wedgeworth, M., LaRocca, M. A., Chaplin, W. F., & Scogin, F. (2017). The role of interpersonal sensitivity, social support, and quality of life in rural older adults. Geriatric Nursing, 38(1), 22-26.
  91. Williams, L. J. (1995). Covariance structure modeling in organizational research: Problems with the method versus applications of the method. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 16(3), 225-233.
  92. Yousaf, S., Rasheed, M. I., Hameed, Z., & Luqman, A. (2020). Occupational stress and its outcomes: the role of work-social support in the hospitality industry. Personnel Review, 49(3), 755-773.
  93. Zedeck, S. (1992). Exploring the domain of work and family concerns. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
  94. Zedeck, S., & Mosier, K. L. (1990). Work in the family and employing organization. American Psychologist, 45(2), 240-251.
  95. Zhao, X. R., Ghiselli, R., Wang, J., Law, R., Okumus, F., & Ma, J. (2020). A mixed-method review of work-family research in hospitality contexts. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 45, 213-225.
  96. Zhao, X., & Ghiselli, R. (2016). Why do you feel stressed in a “smile factory”? Hospitality job characteristics influence work–family conflict and job stress. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 28(2), 305-326.
  97. Zimet, G. D., Dahlem, N. W., Zimet, S. G., & Farley, G. K. (1988). The multidimensional scale of perceived social support. Journal of Personality Assessment, 52(1), 30-41.