Psychological Wellbeing, Workplace Challenges, and Work-Life Balance Among Working Women: A Systematic Review
Authors
Lakshmi Priya T B
Research Scholar, School of Management studies and Commerce, Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (IN)
Dr. M Prathapan
Associate Professor, School of Management studies and Commerce, Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (IN)
Article Information
DOI: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2026.150600201
Subject Category: Workplace Challenges
Volume/Issue: 15/6 | Page No: 2715-2727
Publication Timeline
Submitted: 2026-07-21
Published: 2026-07-21
Abstract
This systematic review synthesises findings from 48 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2026 on the wellbeing, occupational stress, and workplace experiences of working women. Drawing on a Scopus-indexed corpus, the review identifies seven key thematic areas: psychological wellbeing and mental health, workplace harassment and bullying, work-life balance and family conflict, gender inequality, industry-specific occupational stress, physical health and body image, and relationships and domestic life. Findings consistently highlight that working women face compounding stressors arising from dual role demands, hostile work environments, gender-based inequalities, and inadequate organisational support. Evidence-based interventions such as mindfulness, internet-based therapies, flexible work policies, and physical activity programmes are identified as promising strategies to improve wellbeing outcomes. The review calls for targeted organisational policies and broader structural reforms to promote equitable, healthy workplaces for women across sectors and geographies.
Keywords
working women; psychological wellbeing; workplace stress; harassment; work-life balance; gender inequality; occupational health
Downloads
References
1. Al Doghan, M. A., and Arshad, M. (2023). Cyberbullying and Psychological Stress among Female Employees. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
2. Asadullah, M. N., and Talukder, A. (2019). The paradox of the contented female worker: Evidence from Bangladesh's ready-made garments sector. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
3. B, R., et al. (2021). An Investigation of the Impact of Occupational Stress on Mental Health of Remote Working Women IT Professionals in Urban Bangalore, India. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
4. Barnard, A. (2018). Well-being, more than a dream: Women constructing metaphors of strength. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
5. Biju, M., and Pathak, S. (2020). Helping women intrapreneurial leaders flourish: appreciating emotional labor. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
6. Blazovich, J. L., et al. (2018). Mother-friendly companies, work-life balance, and emotional well-being: Is there a relationship to financial performance and risk level? [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
7. Chen, J., and Hu, Y. (2024). Crossing the rice–wheat border: Income, gender role attitudes and female subjective well-being. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
8. Choeni, M., et al. (2025). Voice climate, gender equality and well-being in the South African banking sector. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
9. De Moortel, D., et al. (2017). Working Hours Mismatch, Macroeconomic Changes, and Mental Well-being in Europe. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
10. Devi, M., et al. (2024). Predictive Stress Management for Working Women in Educational Institutions using Federated Learning and Wearable Technology. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
11. Di Marco, D., et al. (2018). Spanish validation of the shorter version of the Workplace Incivility Scale: An employment status invariant measure. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
12. Divyakala, M., and Vasumathi, A. (2025). Women's productivity in hostile work environments: evaluating organisational efforts to tackle workplace bullying and its mediating impact on psychological consequences. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
13. Divyakala, M., and Vasumathi, A. (2025). Cultivating productivity among women employees: the dynamic role of psychological well-being, emotional exhaustion, and conflict management. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
14. Fazal, S., et al. (2022). Individual and Organizational Strategies for Promoting Work–Life Balance for Sustainable Workforce: A Systematic Literature Review from Pakistan. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
15. Hitlan, R. T. (2025). Sexual and Bystander Harassment Among Part-Time Employees: Effects on Work Attitudes, Stress, and Withdrawal. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
16. Jeppu, A. K., et al. (2019). An assessment of perceived stress levels and coping strategies for the same among married women clerical employees in a tertiary care teaching hospital. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
17. Kamil, M., et al. (2024). Fostering Psychological Well-Being and Igniting Work Motivation in Employees: Gender as Moderator. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
18. Krueger, A. B. (2017). Where have all the workers gone? An inquiry into the decline of the U.S. Labor force participation rate. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
19. Kumar, A., et al. (2024). Women: Autonomous Bodies, Are They? Understanding Autonomy and Well-being. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
20. Kumari, R. (2024). Job-Home Balance of Rural Women Employees: An Insight Study from Bangalore Rural District. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
21. Liu, Y., et al. (2020). Associations of ergonomic and psychosocial work hazards with musculoskeletal disorders of specific body parts: A study of general employees in Taiwan. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
22. Lo, A. Y. (2025). Effects of urban green space landscape elements on perceived sensory dimensions, landscape preference, stress restoration, and anxiety in women. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
23. Maiti, S., and Sanyal, S. (2023). Organisational commitment of working women: The role optimisation. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
24. Malathi, S., and Srilatha, M. (2025). Work Stress of Women Employees in The Information Technology Industry: An Empirical Study with Reference to Chennai City. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
25. Mehmood, K., et al. (2024). Effect of workplace bullying and incivility on employee performance: Mediating role of psychological wellbeing. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
26. Meyer, B., et al. (2021). Employee psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: A longitudinal study of demands, resources, and exhaustion. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
27. Okojide, A. C., et al. (2023). Psychological Well-being as a Predictor of Marital Stability among Employed Women in Lagos State, Nigeria. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
28. Öcel, H. (2017). Stigmatization, mindfulness and psychological well-being among working women diagnosed with breast cancer. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
29. Oyet, M., et al. (2019). Differences among women in response to workplace incivility: Perceived dissimilarity as a boundary condition. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
30. Peng, Y., et al. (2024). Physical activity, body anxiety, self-discipline, and emotional eating among Chinese women in the workforce. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
31. Prasad, K. D. V., and Vaidya, R. (2021). Occupational Stress and its Impact on Work-Life Balance and Psychological Well-being of Remote Working Women Employees in IT-Enabled Sector during Covid-19 Pandemic. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
32. Rajeswari, S., et al. (2025). An examination of the nexus between mindfulness and mental well-being: a study among working women of IT sector in North Tamil Nadu. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
33. Robinson, J. D., et al. (2015). Wanted you to know: Breast cancer survivors' control of workplace communication about cancer. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
34. Rotimi, A., et al. (2023). Work environment challenge and the wellbeing of women in construction industry in New Zealand – The mediating role of work morale. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
35. Sasaki, N., et al. (2023). The effect of internet-based acceptance and commitment therapy (iACT) on psychological well-being among working women with a pre-school child: A randomized controlled trial. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
36. Sharma, N., and Srivastava, S. (2020). A scale to measure organizational stress among women workers in the garment industry. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
37. Shepherd-Banigan, M., et al. (2015). Workplace Stress and Working from Home Influence Depressive Symptoms Among Employed Women with Young Children. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
38. Skica, T., and Miszczyńska, K. (2025). Psychological Well-Being of Self-Employed Women: European Perspective. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
39. Soomro, A. A., et al. (2023). Investigating the impact of sensitivity to terrorism on employee psychological well-being: the mediating role of psychological resilience. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
40. Sultana, A., et al. (2023). Work-life balance scenario of female professionals working in the corporate sector of Bangladesh: challenges, consequences and organisational responses. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
41. Vasumathi, A., et al. (2025). Beyond the surface: understanding how workplace bullying affects women's performance via emotional exhaustion and psychological well-being. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
42. Verma, S., et al. (2018). Relationship between gender-sensitive practices and family support and its impact on psychological well-being of women employees in call centers in India. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
43. Xie, Y., and Zheng, Y. (2022). A Moderated Mediation Model of Masculinity Contest Culture and Psychological Well-Being. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
44. Xue, J., et al. (n.d.). Information Communication Technologies and Intimate Partner Violence in China. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
45. Yadav, S., et al. (2022). Association between school dropouts, early marriages, childbearing, and mental health in early adulthood of women: Evidence from a cohort study in Bihar, India. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
46. Yang, Z. (2025). Impact mechanism of inclusive leadership on employees' workplace wellbeing in service enterprises. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
47. Yöyen, E. G., et al. (2025). Predictors of Young Adult Women's Psychological Well-Being in Romantic Relationships. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
48. Zakharova, L., et al. (2020). Subjective well-being of female employees of innovative companies of different ages. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
49. Zapata-Matheus, L., and Ariza-Ruiz, M. (2026). Psychological Well-Being in Pregnant and Breastfeeding Female Employees in Colombia. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
Metrics
Views & Downloads
Similar Articles
- Enhancing Formation Control of Multi Agent Systems Using Ann Based Technique
- Improving Sliding Mode Control with Chattering Reduction using Fuzzy Based Technique
- Cooking Quality, Fasting Blood Glucose, Glycemic Index and Load of High–Fiber Noodles Made from Wheat, Tiger Nut Residue and Cassava Flour Blends
- Matrix Rhythm Therapy Versus Interferential Therapy Combined with Lumbar Stabilization Exercises in Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Comparative Trial
- Formulation and Sensory Evaluation of Functional Cake Prepared from Sweet Potato Powder