Date of Conferral

2018

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Leslie Barnes-Young

Abstract

There is a likelihood of stress in working students' struggles to manage work, family, studies, and personal life, yet little is known about differences in stress levels between male and female online students. Previous studies suggested that more men than women balanced work and family owing to women's asymmetrical family responsibilities. The purpose of this study was to examine the moderating effects of gender on the relationships of work-life balance and work-study interface of working online students and their perceived stress and satisfaction with life. In this quantitative study, the theoretical framework included social role theory and spillover theory. A convenience sample of 80 working online students (aged 20-60+ years) participated in an online survey. Particpants completed a demographic survey, work-life balance scale, work-study interface scale, perceived stress scale, and satisfaction with life scale. Collected data were analyzed using regression analysis. The results indicated that in both work-life balance and work-study interface, working female online students had higher levels of perceived stress than males, and women had a lower level of satisfaction with life than men in work-study interface. Understanding spillover experiences and gender social roles of working online students in their work-life balance and work-study interface may lead to positive social change by providing useful information for policy makers to support online students. The study may also provide an understanding of the dynamic of the work-life-study balance for the students themselves.

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