The mediating role of psychological capital in the relationship between work–life balance and work engagement: A study on female employees in the aviation sector

Abstract

The aviation industry imposes significant pressure on employees’ work–life balance due to its intense workload, irregular shift schedules, and service structure that requires a high level of emotional labor. In particular, female flight attendants face the challenge of simultaneously managing both work and private life roles, making the impact of this balance on their work-related perceptions an increasingly important area of research. This study aims to examine the mediating role of psychological capital in the effect of work–life balance on work engagement. Data were collected through an online survey administered to 103 female flight attendants employed by an airline operating in Türkiye. Reliability analyses, correlation tests, regression analyses, and PROCESS mediation tests were conducted. The findings indicate that work–life balance has a positive and significant effect on both work engagement and psychological capital. However, psychological capital was not found to have a significant effect on work engagement, and its mediating role was not supported. These results suggest that flight attendants’ work engagement is shaped more by organizational arrangements and working conditions than by individual psychological resources. The study highlights the importance of implementing practices that strengthen female employees’ work–life balance and offers both theoretical and practical contributions to aviation management.

Keywords

• Work–Life Balance
• Work Engagement
• Psychological Capital

İş-yaşam dengesinin işe angaje olmaya etkisinde psikolojik sermayenin aracı rolü: Havacılık sektöründe kadın çalışanlar üzerine bir araştırma

Abstract

Havacılık sektörü, yoğun çalışma temposu, vardiya düzensizliği ve yüksek düzeyde duygusal çaba gerektiren hizmet yapısı nedeniyle çalışanların iş-yaşam dengesi üzerinde önemli baskılar oluşturmaktadır. Özellikle kadın kabin memurları hem iş hem de özel yaşam rollerini aynı anda yürütmek zorunda olduklarından, bu dengenin işe yönelik algıları üzerindeki etkileri giderek önemli bir araştırma konusu haline gelmektedir. Bu çalışma, iş-yaşam dengesinin işe angaje olma üzerindeki etkisinde psikolojik sermayenin aracı rolünü incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırmanın verileri, Türkiye’de faaliyet gösteren bir havayolu şirketinde görev yapan 103 kadın kabin memurundan çevrimiçi anket yoluyla elde edilmiş; analizlerde güvenilirlik, korelasyon, regresyon ve PROCESS aracılık testleri uygulanmıştır. Bulgular, iş-yaşam dengesinin hem işe angaje olmayı hem de psikolojik sermayeyi pozitif ve anlamlı biçimde etkilediğini göstermektedir. Buna karşın, psikolojik sermayenin işe angaje olma üzerinde anlamlı bir etkisi bulunamamış ve aracılık rolü desteklenmemiştir. Bu sonuçlar, kabin memurlarının işe angajmanının bireysel psikolojik kaynaklardan ziyade örgütsel düzenlemeler ve çalışma koşulları tarafından belirlendiğini ortaya koymaktadır. Çalışma, kadın çalışanların iş-yaşam dengesini güçlendirecek uygulamaların önemine işaret ederek havacılık yönetimine hem teorik hem de pratik katkılar sunmaktadır.

Keywords

• İş-Yaşam Dengesi
• İşe Angaje Olma
• Psikolojik Sermaye

Ethical Statement

Bu araştırma için Kayseri Üniversitesi Etik Kurul Başkanlığı’ndan 24.06.2025 tarihli ve E.142626 sayılı kararı ile Etik Kurul izni alınmıştır. Bu makale araştırma ve yayın etiği standartlarını karşılamaktadır.

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