Impact of Work-Life Balance on Workplace Stress Among Employees

This study explores how perceived stress affects work-life balance (WLB) among Indian working professionals, with a focus on the moderating role of professional fields. Based on prior research highlighting stress as a key factor in occupational well-being, the study investigates whether professionals in HR/Operations, IT, and Finance/Marketing experience varying impacts of stress on WLB. Data from 158 valid online survey responses were analyzed using moderation analysis (PROCESS Model 2 in SPSS), with dummy-coded variables representing professional sectors. Results revealed a significant negative relationship between perceived stress and work-life balance. Notably, professionals in HR/Operations showed a weaker negative impact of stress on WLB compared to those in Finance/Marketing. No significant moderation effect was observed for the IT sector. These findings suggest that sector-specific demands and coping mechanisms influence how stress affects work-life balance. The study emphasizes the need for tailored interventions that address unique stressors within different fields. Limitations include the cross-sectional design and limited generalizability. Future research should adopt longitudinal designs and include a broader range of occupations for a deeper understanding of stress-WLB dynamics in India. Keywords: Stress, Work-Life Balance, Indian Employees, HR, IT, Finance, Occupational Well-being