Analysing work-life balance and productivity of working mothers with children with special needs

https://doi.org/10.35912/ahrmr.v5i2.3122
Published: Jul 22, 2025

Abstract:

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the effect of work-life balance (WLB) on the productivity of working mothers who have children with special needs in Kupang City, Indonesia.

Methodology: Using an explanatory quantitative approach with PLS-SEM analysis. Data were collected from a random sample of working mothers in the area and analyzed using SmartPLS 4.0 software.

Results: WLB significantly contributes to increased work productivity, with a path coefficient (?) of 0.728 and an R² value of 0.530, indicating that more than half of the productivity variation can be explained by WLB. The main supporting factors for WLB include family support, flexible organizational policies, and effective stress management.

Conclusions: The study confirms that productivity success heavily depends on a holistically managed work-life balance through adaptive policies and social support. The additional pressure from the responsibility of having children with special needs requires a support system to prevent productivity decline, highlighting the importance of managing role conflicts and emotional exhaustion.

Limitations: This study is limited by its cross-sectional design, localized sample in Kupang City, and reliance on self-reported data. It does not explore qualitative aspects or moderating factors such as job type, support systems, or the severity of the child’s condition, which may influence the results.

Contribution: Enriches the human resource management and industrial psychology literature with empirical contextual insights from Indonesia and offers practical recommendations for organizations and policymakers to support working mothers with children who have special needs.

Keywords:
1. PLS-SEM analysis
2. Productivity
3. Working Mothers
4. Special Needs Children
5. Work-Life Balance
Authors:
1 . Rolland Epafras Fanggidae
University of Nusa Cendana, Kupang, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia
2 . Ingrid Adinda Tadu
University of Nusa Cendana, Kupang, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia
3 . Ni Putu Nursiani
University of Nusa Cendana, Kupang, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia
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How to Cite
Fanggidae, R. E., Tadu, I. A., & Nursiani , N. P. (2025). Analysing work-life balance and productivity of working mothers with children with special needs. Annals of Human Resource Management Research, 5(2), 451–461. https://doi.org/10.35912/ahrmr.v5i2.3122
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Issue & Section
Vol. 5 No. 2 (2025): June
Articles
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References

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    Alifia, N. S., & Iryanti, E. (2023). The Effect of Work Life Balance and Employee Engagement on Employee Performance of PT Duta Jaya Teknik Surabaya. International Journal Of Social Science And Education Research Studies, 3(9), 1808-1813. doi:https://doi.org/10.55677/ijssers/V03I9Y2023-04

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    Peng, Q., Lian, C., & Zhang, L. (2022). Influence of Border-Keepers’ Support on Work-Family Enrichment of Preschool Teachers in China: The Mediating Role of Work-Family Boundary Flexibility. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1-16. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.752836

    Pradila, A. T., & Fadli, J. A. (2023). The Effect of Salary and Work-Life Balance on Employee Productivity with the Mediation of Employee Work Motivation at Coffee Shops In Jabodetabek. Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen Kesatuan, 11(3), 1505-1518. doi:https://doi.org/10.37641/jimkes.v11i3.2084

    Roskam, I., & Mikolajczak, M. (2023). Parental Burnout in the Context of Special Needs, Adoption, and Single Parenthood. Children, 10(7), 1-12. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/children10071131

    Rosyidi, L., & Rofiq, A. (2025). Peran Perempuan dalam Pembangunan Ekonomi dan Penguatan Kesetaraan Gender. Jurnal Istiqro, 11(1), 20-34. doi:https://doi.org/10.30739/istiqro.v11i1.3160

    Safitri, F. S. D., & Frianto, A. (2021). Pengaruh Work Life Balance dan Brunout Terhadap Produktivitas Kerja Karyawan PT. Indomarco Adi Prima Surabaya. BIMA?: Journal of Business and Innovation Management, 4(1), 1-13. doi:https://doi.org/10.33752/bima.v4i1.492

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    Stevens, E. K., Aziz, S., Wuensch, K. L., & Walcott, C. (2024). Caregivers of Children with Special Healthcare Needs: A Quantitative Examination of Work-Family Culture, Caregiver Burden, and Work-Life Balance. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 33(5), 1365-1377. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-024-02822-1

    Surijadi, H., Tousalwa, C. C., Amin, M., Matakita, M., Musa, M. N. D., Muspiha, M., & Siwabessy, D. J. (2023). Determinan Kepuasan Kerja Berdasarkan Pengembangan Karier dan Keseimbangan Kehidupan Kerja. Journal of Economics Review (JOER), 3(2), 97-109. doi:https://doi.org/10.55098/joer.3.2.97%20-%20109

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  2. Alifia, N. S., & Iryanti, E. (2023). The Effect of Work Life Balance and Employee Engagement on Employee Performance of PT Duta Jaya Teknik Surabaya. International Journal Of Social Science And Education Research Studies, 3(9), 1808-1813. doi:https://doi.org/10.55677/ijssers/V03I9Y2023-04
  3. Aras, R. A., Wahyuni, S., & Thalib, A. H. S. (2022). Contribution of Social Support to Work-life Balance of Working Women During Work From Home. Interdisciplinary Conference of Psychology, Health, and Social Science (ICPHS 2021), 639, 24-30. doi:https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.220203.005
  4. Burches, E., & Burches, M. (2020). Efficacy, Effectiveness and Efficiency in the Health Care: The Need for an Agreement to Clarify its Meaning. International Archives of Public Health and Community Medicine, 4(1), 1-3. doi:https://doi.org/10.23937/2643-4512/1710035
  5. Cho, E., Chen, T.-Y., Cheng, G. H.-L., & Ho, M.-H. R. (2022). Work–Family Balance Self-Efficacy and Work–Family Balance During the Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study of Working Informal Caregivers of Older Adults. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 27(3), 349-358. doi:https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/ocp0000321
  6. Clark, S. C. (2000). Work/Family Border Theory: A New Theory of Work/Family Balance. Human relations, 53(6), 747-770. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726700536001
  7. Farhani, A. (2024). The Effect of Compensation on the Work Productivity of Senamas Energindo Mineral Employes in East Barito. PubBis: Jurnal Pemikiran dan Penelitian Administrasi Publik dan Administrasi Bisnis, 8(1), 93-100. doi:https://doi.org/10.35722/jurnalpubbis.v8i1.962
  8. Gerçek, M. (2025). Balancing Demands and Resources Along the Work–Family Continuum of Working Mothers: Insights From a Meta-Synthesis Study. Journal of Family Issues, 46(5), 827-858. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X241299418
  9. Gragnano, A., Simbula, S., & Miglioretti, M. (2020). Work–Life Balance: Weighing the Importance of Work–Family and Work–Health Balance. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(3), 1-20. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17030907
  10. Greenhaus, J. H., Collins, K. M., & Shaw, J. D. (2003). The Relation between Work–Family Balance and Quality of Life. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 63(3), 510-531. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0001-8791(02)00042-8
  11. Haar, J. M., Russo, M., Suñe, A., & Ollier-Malaterre, A. (2014). Outcomes of Work–Life Balance on Job Satisfaction, Life Satisfaction and Mental Health: A Study Across Seven Cultures. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 85(3), 361-373. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2014.08.010
  12. Hafid, M., & Prasetio, A. P. (2017). Pengaruh Work-Life Balance Terhadap Turnover Intention (Studi Pada Karyawan Divisi Food & Beverage Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta). Jurnal Study and Management Research, 14(3), 48-56. doi:https://doi.org/10.55916/smart.v14i3.17
  13. Hair, J. F., Risher, J. J., Sarstedt, M., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). When to Use and How to Report the Results of PLS-SEM. European Business Review, 31(1), 2-24. doi:https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-11-2018-0203
  14. Ivaniševi?, M. N., Sliškovi?, A., Ombla, J., Toki?, A., & Brown, T. (2023). Life Satisfaction in Employed Mothers of Children with Disabilities: The Importance of Personal, Family, Work, and Society Characteristics. Societies, 13(8), 1-17. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13080177
  15. Kaweri, N. W., Sundjoto, Rahayu, S., & Fitrianty, R. (2024). Pengaruh Work Family Conflict, Mental Health, Competency Terhadap Performance Wanita Pekerja. COMSERVA : Jurnal Penelitian dan Pengabdian Masyarakat, 4(8), 2494-2503. doi:https://doi.org/10.59141/comserva.v4i8.2731
  16. Kulik, L. (2025). Role Conflict, Enrichment, Sense of Balance, and Well-Being among Working Students Who are Parents. Journal of Family Social Work, 28(2), 86-107. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/10522158.2025.2468264
  17. Mirawati, & Ali, H. (2022). Determination of Work Productivity and Service Quality: Education Level and Competence Analysis Literature Review. Dinasti International Journal of Digital Business Management, 3(3), 488-497. doi:https://doi.org/10.31933/dijdbm.v3i3.1251
  18. Pangemanan, F. L., Pio, R. J., & Tumbel, T. M. (2017). Pengaruh Work-life Balance dan Burnout Terhadap Kepuasan Kerja. Jurnal Administrasi Bisnis (JAB), 5(3), 1-8.
  19. Peng, Q., Lian, C., & Zhang, L. (2022). Influence of Border-Keepers’ Support on Work-Family Enrichment of Preschool Teachers in China: The Mediating Role of Work-Family Boundary Flexibility. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1-16. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.752836
  20. Pradila, A. T., & Fadli, J. A. (2023). The Effect of Salary and Work-Life Balance on Employee Productivity with the Mediation of Employee Work Motivation at Coffee Shops In Jabodetabek. Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen Kesatuan, 11(3), 1505-1518. doi:https://doi.org/10.37641/jimkes.v11i3.2084
  21. Roskam, I., & Mikolajczak, M. (2023). Parental Burnout in the Context of Special Needs, Adoption, and Single Parenthood. Children, 10(7), 1-12. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/children10071131
  22. Rosyidi, L., & Rofiq, A. (2025). Peran Perempuan dalam Pembangunan Ekonomi dan Penguatan Kesetaraan Gender. Jurnal Istiqro, 11(1), 20-34. doi:https://doi.org/10.30739/istiqro.v11i1.3160
  23. Safitri, F. S. D., & Frianto, A. (2021). Pengaruh Work Life Balance dan Brunout Terhadap Produktivitas Kerja Karyawan PT. Indomarco Adi Prima Surabaya. BIMA?: Journal of Business and Innovation Management, 4(1), 1-13. doi:https://doi.org/10.33752/bima.v4i1.492
  24. Sahin, A. K., & Aytac, S. (2021). International Migration of Highly Qualified Housewife Mothers and Their Career Concerns. International Journal of Business and Management Research, 9(1), 45-50. doi:https://doi.org/10.37391/ijbmr.090107
  25. Stevens, E. K., Aziz, S., Wuensch, K. L., & Walcott, C. (2024). Caregivers of Children with Special Healthcare Needs: A Quantitative Examination of Work-Family Culture, Caregiver Burden, and Work-Life Balance. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 33(5), 1365-1377. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-024-02822-1
  26. Surijadi, H., Tousalwa, C. C., Amin, M., Matakita, M., Musa, M. N. D., Muspiha, M., & Siwabessy, D. J. (2023). Determinan Kepuasan Kerja Berdasarkan Pengembangan Karier dan Keseimbangan Kehidupan Kerja. Journal of Economics Review (JOER), 3(2), 97-109. doi:https://doi.org/10.55098/joer.3.2.97%20-%20109
  27. Vatharkar, P. (2017). Relationship between Role, Conflict and Work Life Balance – Mediation of Job Satisfaction. Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR), 3(8), 248-252.
  28. Vitaharsa, L. I., & Wasino, H. (2025). The Influence of Work-Life Balance on Employee Productivity: A Literature Review in the Context of Modern Companies. International Journal of Humanity Advance, Business & Sciences (IJHABS), 2(4), 385-396. doi:https://doi.org/10.59971/ijhabs.v2i4.419
  29. Yahya, R. Z., & Laura, N. (2021). Pengaruh Work From Home dan Work Life Balance Terhadap Produktivitas Kerja dengan Motivasi Sosial Sebagai Variabel Moderating Pada PT. Cemerlang Indo Pangan. Cendekia Jaya, 3(2), 20-40. doi:https://doi.org/10.47685/cendekia-jaya.v3i2.186
  30. Zelenyuk, V. (2023). Productivity Analysis: Roots, Foundations, Trends and Perspectives. Journal of Productivity Analysis, 60(3), 229-247. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11123-023-00692-1