Exploration of Workplace Loneliness and Subjective Well-Being in Public Higher Education Institutions: A JD-R Model Perspective in Pakistan

Abstract This study examines workplace loneliness and subjective well-being among academics in public higher education institutions (HEIs) in Pakistan, using the Job Demands-Resources model. It investigates the effects of managerial support, thriving at work, and meaningful work in reducing the negative effects of workplace loneliness on subjective well-being. Data from 600 academics were analyzed using structural equation modelling (AMOS 24), showing that workplace loneliness significantly reduces subjective well-being, while managerial support, thriving at work, and meaningful work counteract this impact. The research contributes to theory by integrating these underexplored factors and situating workplace loneliness within the broader challenges faced by academia, particularly in public HEIs.