The association between work-life integration, job satisfaction, job stress, and innovative work behavior

Purpose The study investigates the association between work-life integration and innovative work behavior, while examining job stress and job satisfaction as mediating variables. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative survey was conducted among employees from various industries. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). The study was grounded in the Work-Home Resources model, Job Demands-Resources model, and Affective Events Theory. Findings The findings disclose a network of negative correlations, indicating that poor work-life integration is associated with higher stress and lower job satisfaction, which are linked to impaired innovation. Practical implications It contributes a higher-resolution, multidimensional understanding of how affective and cognitive strains undermine the innovation in collectivist work environments. Originality/value While existing literature mainly highlights the benefits of work-life integration, it rarely addresses the negative aspects, particularly in non-Western contexts. The empirical research explores both partial and sequential mediation of stress and satisfaction in this relationship.