WORK–LIFE BALANCE AND MENTAL WELL-BEING OF WOMEN WORKERS IN CHENNAI’S UNORGANISED SECTOR

Abstract

Women working in the unorganized sector in Chennai of domestic helps, street vendors, construction laborers, garment makers, and home-based workers face many hard challenges in balancing their family responsibilities and job demand because of erratic work hours, low salaries, lack of social security, and emotional stress. All these situations interact with mental health and dictate the overall life quality of women. The study is focused on the investigation of relationship work–life balance on mental well-being among 230 women working in various unorganized sectors in Chennai.

The study was based on structured questionnaires, with a descriptive-analytical method that used different statistical techniques: descriptive analysis, reliability testing, EFA, Pearson correlations, and multiple linear regressions. The study identified that the absence of a well-balanced professional and personal life has a significant effect on women's mental health, with emotional exhaustion, role stress, and financial stress as the strongest predictors in the model. In order to enhance the wellbeing of women working in unorganized work, it is necessary to introduce tailored welfare measures, flexible working hours, and a network of social support systems.