Kaya Pa! Work-life Balance and Its Implication to Mental Health and Teaching Performance Among Secondary Teachers

Authors

  • EDITHA LIM Department of Education image/svg+xml Author
  • DR. NILDA O. BABARAN Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64358/17ppgj86

Keywords:

work-life balance, mental health, teaching performance, secondary teachers, coping mechanisms, professional resilience

Abstract

This study examined the work-life balance, mental health, and teaching performance of 116 secondary teachers using a mixed-methods research design. It also identified the challenges teachers face in maintaining work-life balance, their coping mechanisms, and their recommendations for school administrators. Results showed that respondents experienced a fair level of work-life balance, with Work Personal Life Enhancement rated Good, while interference dimensions were rated Fair. Most respondents exhibited manageable mental health levels, though a notable minority reported mild to severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Despite this, teaching performance across all dimensions, teaching skills, student-teacher relationship, management skills, and evaluation skills was consistently rated Outstanding. Qualitative findings identified four challenges: time management struggles, heavy workload, blurred work-life boundaries, and role conflict. Respondents coped through priority setting, strategic planning, task diversion, and rest. The null hypothesis, stating no significant relationship exists among the three variables, was partially rejected. Significant negative relationships were found between work-life balance and mental health, and selectively between work-life balance and teaching performance, particularly in preparation and classroom techniques. However, no significant relationship was found between mental health and teaching performance, indicating strong professional resilience among respondents. The study concludes that while teachers demonstrate high professional competence, institutional interventions, including mental health support, workload reduction, and protected personal time, are essential to sustaining teacher well-being and long-term effectiveness.

Author Biography

  • DR. NILDA O. BABARAN

    Director, Culture and the Arts

    Isabela State University-Main Campus

References

Badmus, Isaac (2025). Work-Life Balance Challenges and Their Effects onSenior High School Teachers' Productivity and Morale. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/389736446_Work-Life_Balance_Challenges_and_Their_Effects_on_Senior_High_School_Teachers'_Productivity_and_Morale. Retrieved 03/23/2026

Bagastos, M. R. (2011). Quality of Work Life: A Review of Literature. DLSU Business and Economics Review 20.2 (2011), pp. 1-8

Barrios, A. R., Caludio A. A., Bilinoac, L. C., Beldia, L. L., and Rosas R. V. (2023). Workload and Teaching Efficiency of High School Tecahers in Southern Baptist College, Incorporated, Mlang, Cotabato, Philippines. Journal of Research and Method in Education, 13 (1), 39-47. e-ISSN:2320-7388, p-ISSN: 2320-737. DOI 10.9790/7388-1301013947

Beck, A. T., Epstein, N., Brown, G., & Steer, R. A. (1988). An inventory for measuring clinical anxiety: psychometric properties. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 56(6), 893.

Brough, P., Timms, C., Chan, X. W., Hawkes, A., Rasmussen, L. (2020). Work–Life Balance: Definitions, Causes, and Consequences. DOI 10.1007/978-3-030-05031-3_20-1. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/399143

Buonomo, I., De Vicenzi, C., Pansini M., D’Anna, F., & Benevene, P. (2024). Feeling Supported as a Remote Worker: The Role of Support from Leaders and Colleagues and Job Satisfaction in Promoting Employees’ Work–Life Balance. . Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21, 770. https:// doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21060770

Claro, C. P. (2024). Examining The Work-Life Balance Amongst College And University Teachers: A Basis For Institutional Support Strategy. IJRP 2024, 144(1), 250-257; doi:.10.47119/IJRP1001441320246157

Chhetri, P., Raju, T., Study Of Work-Life Balance Of Secondary School Teachers Of East Sikkim, Shodh Sanchar Bulletin Vol. 10, Issue 40, October-December, 2020Page Nos. 57-64 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/377086439

Darit, J. S. & Lacap, J. P. (2020). The Influence of Work life balance on Employee engagement among workers in Pampanga. Philippines: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach. DOI: 10.37200/IJPR/V24I4/PR201420

Eden, J. O. (2025), Teachers’ Work and Family Life: Impacts and the Need for Balance. Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 3 (4), 456-474. https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2025.102

Eljo, J., Ilango, P., Nadaf, M., Nisha, K., Work-Life Balance Among School Teachers: Challenges And Management. International Journal of Management (IJM) Volume 11, Issue 4, April 2020, pp. 1174-1183, Article ID: IJM_11_04_116 Available online at https://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJM?Volume=11&Issue=4 ISSN Print: 0976-6502 and ISSN Online: 0976-6510 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/3DYSK

Fimian, M. J. (1986). Note on reliability of the Teacher Stress Inventory. Psychological Reports, 59(1), 275-278

García-Batista, Z. E., Guerra-Peña, K., Cano-Vindel, A., Herrera-Martínez, S. X., & Medrano, L. A. (2018). Validity and reliability of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) in general and hospital population of Dominican Republic. PloS one, 13(6), e0199750.

Glazzard, J., & Rose, A. (2020). The impact of teacher well-being and mental health on pupil progress in primary schools. Journal of Public Mental Health, 19(4), 349–357. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-02-2019-0023

GMA Integrated News (2026). Guro sa Muntinlupa Namatay Habang Nasa Classroom Observation.https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/balitambayan/balita/972143/guro-sa-muntinlupa-namatay-habang-nasa-classroom-observation/story/

Go, J. F. C. & Hechanova, M. R. M. (2022). Work-life Balance Crafting and Well-being of Workers in Dual Income Relationships in the Philippines. Philippine Journal of psychology, 2022, doi: 10.31710/pjp/0055.01

Gragnano, A., Simbula, S., Miglioretti, M., Work-Life Balance: Weighing the Importance of Work -Family and Work-Health Balance. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Feb1; 17(3):907. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17030907. PMID: 32024155; PMCID: PMC7037206.

Gregorio, M. R. G., Luis, P. B., Pajo, G. M. (2021). Work-Life Balance And Employee Work Engagement In Selected Business Process Outsourcing Companies In Metro Manila. GSJ: Volume 9, Issue 10, October 2021, Online: ISSN 2320-9186.

Gumpal, M. G. O. and Cardenas, R. L. (2021). Work Life Balance in the Lens of Filipino Workers: A Generational Perspective. Volume 10 Issue 10, October 2021 www.ijsr.net. Paper ID: SR201007212347 DOI: 10.21275/SR201007212347

Hayman, J. (2005). Psychometric Assessment of an Instrument Designed to Measure Work Life Balance. Research and Practice in Human Resource Management, 13 (1), 85-91.

Hiremath V.M.R, Dr. Ganesha H.R, & Hirremat, D. R. (2023). A Systematic Literature Review On Work Life Balance. Volume: 9| Issue: 12| December 2023|| Journal DOI: 10.36713/epra2013 || SJIF Impact Factor 2023: 8.224 || ISI Value: 1.188

Jermsittiparsert, K., Petchchedchoo, P., Kumsuprom, S., & Panmanee, P. (2021). The Impact Of The Workload On The Job Satisfaction: Does The Job Stress Matter? Volume 20, Special Issue 5, 2021

Leal, G. B. (2024). DepEd to Probe Teachers Death in Davao de Oro Allegedly Due to Stress from the Principal. https://news.tv5.com.ph/local/read/deped-to-probe-teachers-death-in-davao-de-oro-allegedly-due-to-stress-from-principal

Kelliher, C., Richardson, J., Boiarintseva, G. (2019). All of Work? All of Life? Reconceptualising work-life balance for the 21st Century. Human Resource Management Journal, Volume 29, Issue 2, April 2019, pp. 97-112

DOI: 10.1111/1748-8583.1221

Khonsa, N., Nurhattati, N., Nurhattati, N., & Kamaludin, K. (2024). Pengaruh Work Life Balance dan Stres Kerja Terhadap Kinerja Guru MTs Negeri di Jakarta Barat. Journal on Education, 7(2), 8868–8879. https://doi.org/10.31004/joe.v7i2.7797

Kulshresta, V. (2020). Impact Of Work-Life Balance In Improving Organizational Performance-A Literature Review. International Journal of Current Research Vol. 12, Issue, 07, pp.12172-12174, July, 2020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24941/ijcr.39177.07.2020

Magalong, A., Torreon, L. (2021). Teaching Workload Management: Its Impact to Teachers’ Wellbeing and Effectiveness. American Journal of Multidisciplinary Research & Development (AJMRD) Volume 3, Issue 02 (February- 2021), PP 31-36 ISSN: 2360-821X www.ajmrd.com

Miller, Mary Bywater, "The Impact of Teacher Roles Outside the Realm of Education" (2021). Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning.

Odisa, A. M., Kalai, M. J., and Okoth, A. U. (2021). Influence Of Characteristics Of Work-Life Balance On Teachers’ Levels Of Job Satisfaction In Public Secondary Schools In Nairobi, Kenya. ISSN 2141-6656. http://www.academicjournals.org/IJEAPS

Panda, S. (2020). International Journal of Current Research Vol. 12, Issue, 07, pp.12172-12174, July, 2020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24941/ijcr.39177.07.2020

Paraveen, B. (2020). Work-Life Balance Of Teaching Professionals. ISSN: 2474-5146 (Online) 2474-5138 (Print)

Ponnuswami, I., Nadaf, M., and Eljo, J. G. (2020). Work-Life Balance Among School Teachers: Challenges And Management. DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/3DYSK. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381408158

Punia, V., Kamboj, M. (2013) Quality of Work-life Balance Among Teachers in Higher Education Institutions. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261830642. DOI: 10.5958/j.2231-458X.4.3.010

Rahman, M. F. (2019). Work- Life Balance as an Indicator of Job Satisfaction Among the Female Bankers in Bangladesh. ISSN 2222-1905 (Paper) ISSN 2222-2839 (Online) DOI: 10.7176/EJBM.

Riffat-un-Nisaa, A., & Farah, N. (2022). Work Life Balance: Satisfaction of University Teachers Working from Home.

Sabuero, J. B. (2024). The Work-life Balance Among Private Secondary School Teachers. 2024, Vol. 5, No. 7, 2611 – 2619 http://dx.doi.org/10.11594/ijmaber.05.07.19

Singh, S. (2013). Work- Life Balance: A Literature Review. G.J. C.M.P., Vol. 2(3) 2013:84-91. ISSN: 2319 – 7285

Thilagavathy S. and Geetha S.N. (2021). Work-life balance-a systematic review. https://www.emerald.com/insight/2633-9439.htm

Downloads

Published

2026-03-31

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2026): International Journal of Education, Literacies and Curriculum Studies

Section

Articles