Keywords
Leisure
Quality of Life
How to Cite
Abstract
Today, women play active roles in professional and social life, contributing significantly to the development of societies. However, working women must cope with various factors such as heavy workloads, household and family responsibilities, social life, and health issues. In this process, participation in leisure activities adds meaning and balance to their lives and plays an important role in improving their quality of life. In this study, 61 articles published between 2020 and 2024 in the Web of Science (WOS) database that included the concepts of working women, leisure or quality of life were examined through the document analysis method. Accordingly, the aim of the research is to review studies published in the WOS database in the last five years within the context of working women, leisure and quality of life. The findings indicate an increase in publications on this topic in recent years; most studies were conducted in India and within the field of Public Health, and the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health was identified as the journal with the highest number of publications. Most of the studies were indexed in SCIE journals and published in journals with a moderate impact factor. The majority of the studies were quantitative in nature and mainly used questionnaires as data collection tools. As a result, it was determined that working women have difficulties in planning their leisure due to job and household responsibilities, which negatively affects their quality of life, whereas participation in leisure activities has positive effects on health, stress management, and overall life quality. In this regard, it is recommended to strengthen spousal support and develop positive employer policies to enhance leisure participation and improve the quality of life among working women.
References
Abadian, K., Keshavarz, Z., Milani, H. S., Hamdieh, M., & Nasiri, M. (2021). Exploring Iranian married working women's experiences regarding sexual health challenges. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 10(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_922_20
Abay, E., Deveci, M. E., Gürbüz, P. G. (2021). Bir pencere aralamak; Kadınların serbest zaman etkinliklerine katilimlari ve kisitlayicilari [Opening a window; Participation and limitations of women in leisure time activities]. FOCUSS Spor Yönetimi Araştırmaları Dergisi, 2(1), 1-16.
Abdullah, N. A., Bakar, R. S., Ab Rahman, A., Sukeri, S., & Yahaya, N. A. (2024). Prevalence of the unmet needs and its predictors among working mothers of children with epilepsy attending specialist hospitals in Kelantan. IIUM Medical Journal Malaysia, 23(04). https://doi.org/10.31436/imjm.v23i04.2491
Abu Aqab, A., AL-Hussami, M., Almegewly, W., & Karavasileiadou, S. (2023). The effects of physical activity on health-related quality of life among working mothers living in amman: A correlational study. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 1989-2000. https://doi.org/10.2147/jmdh.s414826
Allio, R. (2021). The City Library and popular libraries in early 20th-century. Studi Piemontesi, 50(2), 403-+.
Amiresmaili, M., Goudarzi, R., & Agoush, L. (2023). Informal caregivers and care burden in Iran: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 28(6), 649-658. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_343_21
Anastasopoulou, A., Vraimaki, E., & Trivellas, P. (2023). Recovery for resilience: the mediating role of work–life balance on the quality of life of women employees. Sustainability, 15 (17), 12877. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151712877
Asiamah, N., Aladenola, O. B., Cronin, C., Sepp, L., & O’Callaghan, K. (2024). Effects of physical activity on menopausal symptoms, psychosomatic factors and well-being among working women in England: A path analysis. Women's Health, 20,. https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057241290370
Augustina, S. J., Suganthirababu, P., Rajagopal, V., Kumaresan, A., Srinivasan, V., Ramana, K., ... & Prathap, L. (2023). Pelvic floor dysfunction and its impact on quality of life among female health care employees. Work, 74(3), 1055-1059. https://doi.org/10.3233/wor-211125
Aziz, M., Gupta, S., Mir, S. M., Bashir, I., Khurshid, S., & Amin, F. (2024). Influence of family social capital on the psychological well-being of working women: Mediating role of self-esteem and moderating role of sense of coherence. The Family Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/10664807241257491
Belekhova, G. V., & Ivanovskaya, A. L. (2022). Satisfaction with the work-life balance: Working women's view (regional aspect). Ekonomicheskie i Sotsialnye Peremeny, 15(1), 209-222. https://doi.org/10.15838/esc.2022.1.79.11
Brajša-Žganec, A., Merkaš, M., & Šverko, I. (2011). Quality of life and leisure activities: How do leisure activities contribute to subjective well-being. Social indicators research, 102, 81-91. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11205-010-9724-2
Cruz, N. I. (2022). Symptomatic macromastia and days lost from work. Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal, 41(3), 157-160.
D’Angelo, S., Bevilacqua, G., Hammond, J., Zaballa, E., Dennison, E. M., & Walker-Bone, K. (2023). Impact of menopausal symptoms on work: findings from women in the Health and Employment after Fifty (HEAF) Study. International journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(1), 295. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010295
Danielsson, L., Frantz, A., & Holmgren, K. (2024). Work-related stress is associated with low work ability, but not with poor self-rated health: A cross-sectional study in primary healthcare. Work, 78(4), 1043-1053. https://doi.org/10.3233/wor-230141
David, H. S., & Tiwari, R. R. (2023). A comparative study of work stress among working females getting paid and working women unpaid (housewives) during pregnancy. Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 27(1), 73-78. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijoem.ijoem_179_22
De Pablo Valenciano, J., Milán-García, J., Uribe-Toril, J., & Guerrero-Villalba, M. A. (2021). Rural development from a gender perspective: The case of women farmers in southern Spain. Land, 10(1), 75. https://doi.org/10.3390/land10010075
Durhan, T. A., & Karabulut, M. (2025). Boş zaman yalnızlığını ölçmek: Psikometrik bir yaklaşım [Measuring leisure loneliness: A psychometric approach]. The Online Journal of Recreation and Sports, 14(4), 375-385. https://doi.org/10.22282/tojras.1664213
Garnica-Monroy, R., & Hernández-Reyes, M. (2022). Reproductive work as a limitation for working women in Monterrey, Mexico. Journal of Maps, 18(3), 558-566. https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2022.2093658
Geurts, A. P. (2022). Flânerie as a mode of pleasure: Lessons from a working-class flâneuse. Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 48(1), 197-227. https://doi.org/10.1086/720426
Giusti, L., Mammarella, S., Del Vecchio, S., Salza, A., Casacchia, M., & Roncone, R. (2023). Deepening depression in women balancing work–life responsibilities and caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from gender-specific face-to-face street interviews conducted in Italy. Behavioral Sciences, 13(11), 892. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13110892
Gürbüz, B., Kara, F. M., & Sarol, H. (2017). Türk kadınlarının serbest zamanda sıkılma algısı, benlik saygısı ve yalnızlık düzeylerinin incelenmesi [An investigation of Turkish women’s leisure boredom, self-esteem and loneliness levels] Atatürk Üniversitesi Beden Eğitimi Ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 19(4), 188-198.
Hu, L. (2023). Household structure and gender disparities in out-of-home time use. Travel Behaviour and Society, 31, 106-119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tbs.2022.11.008
Ichikawa, T., Ota, I., Kuwabara, Y., Tsushima, R., Hamatani, T., Hiraike, O., & Akira, S. (2020). Infertility treatment hinders the careers of working women in Japan. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, 46(10), 1940-1950. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tbs.2022.11.008
Hosseini, Z., Rahimi, S. F., Salmani, F., Miri, M. R., Aghamolaei, T., & Dastjerdi, R. (2024). Etiology, consequences, and solutions of working women’s work-life conflict: A qualitative study. BMC Women's Health, 24(1), 62. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02873-4
Jain, A. R., & Sundarajan, D. P. (2022). Effectiveness of Tai Chi exercise program on sleep, quality of life, and physical performance in postmenopausal working women. Journal of Mid-life Health, 13(2), 127-132. https://doi.org/10.4103/jmh.jmh_223_21
Jha, V. K., & Singh, R. Comparison of working and non-working women in terms of marital satisfaction and quality of life. (2020). Int. J. Life Sci. Pharma Res, 10(5), 226-231. https://doi.org/10.22376/ijpbs/lpr.2020.10.5.L226-231
Kagan, R., Shiozawa, A., Epstein, A. J., & Espinosa, R. (2021). Impact of sleep disturbances on employment and work productivity among midlife women in the US SWAN database: A brief report. Menopause, 28(10), 1176-1180. https://doi.org/10.1097/gme.0000000000001834
Karaca, G., Atasever, A., & Kara, F. M. (2025). Sağlıklı yaşamda reform: Çalışan kadınların reformer pilatese katılımını etkileyen faktörleri anlamak [Reforming wellness: Understanding the factors affecting working women's participation in reformer pilates]. Sportive, 8(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.53025/sportive.1553035
Kılıç, M. (2020). Sapkın serbest zaman [Deviant Leisure]. Modern Leisure Studies, 2(1), 1-10.
Koçak, F., & Gürbüz, B. (2024). Promoting social inclusion for adult communities: The moderating role of leisure constraints on life satisfaction in five European countries. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 34(3), e2794. https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.2794
Küçükkaya, B., & Süt, H. K. (2021). Ev kadınlarında ve manyezit madeninin yıkama bandında çalışan kadınlarda stres ve yaşam kalitesi arasındaki ilişki [The relationship between stress and quality life of women working in the washing tape of magnesite mine and home women]. Bezmialem Science. https://doi.org/10.14235/bas.galenos.2020.4086
Loukzadeh, Z., Eslamy, N., Dehghan, M., & Mehrparvar, A. H. (2024). The impact of premenstrual disorders on work disruptions among working women: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine, 22(2), 149. https://doi.org/10.18502/ijrm.v22i2.15712
Machado, A., Wredendal, E., Fink, K., & Friberg, E. (2024). Workplace and social support, treatment satisfaction, and their impact on quality of life in Swedish women with multiple sclerosis: A cross-sectional survey study. BMJ open, 14(12), e087563. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-087563
Magnavita, N., Di Prinzio, R. R., Meraglia, I., Vacca, M. E., Arnesano, G., Merella, M., ... & Terribile, D. A. (2023, August). Supporting return to work after breast cancer: a mixed method study. In Healthcare (Vol. 11, No. 16, p. 2343). MDPI. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11162343
Mallillin, L. L. D. (2022). Mindful self-care development and practice: A guide to healthy lifestyle. Isagoge-Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2(5). https://doi.org/10.59079/isagoge.v2i4.113
Maqsood, S., Niazi, S., Alyas, T., Ghaffar, H. S., Sohail, M., & Sakib, S. (2024). Navigating the role of emotional health and positive life outlook on work‐life balance in professional married women. Journal of Theoretical Social Psychology, 2024(1), 1159667. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/1159667
Mat Pozian, N., Miller, Y. D., & Mays, J. (2024). Family-friendly work conditions and well-being among Malaysian women. Women's Health, 20. https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057241233113
Melnyk, H., Djukic, M., Merriman, J., & Vaughan Dickson, V. (2021). An integrative review: Women’s psychosocial vulnerability in relation to paid work after a breast cancer diagnosis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 77(5), 2144-2154. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14730
Misluk, E., & Rush, H. (2022). Art therapy impact on aging adults’ quality of life: Leisure and learning. Art Therapy, 39(4), 211-218. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1080/07421656.2022.2100688
Moulin, M., Lewis, E. D., Crowley, D. C., May, C. E., & Evans, M. (2022). Efficacy of nonsolvent flower pollen extracts in healthy women with urinary incontinence: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study. Current Urology, 10-1097. https://doi.org/10.1097/cu9.0000000000000248
Mubeen, S. M., & Ahsan, M. D. (2022). Prevalence and associated factors of restless leg syndrome (RLS) in Pakistani women during pregnancy. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 42(6), 1829-1834. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443615.2022.2040963
Mullens, F., & Glorieux, I. (2023). Not enough time? Leisure and multiple dimensions of time wealth. Leisure Sciences, 45(2), 178-198. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2020.1805656
Naganathan, R., Gupta, D., & Prasad, R. (2021). Connotation of leisure and leisure activities among urban Indian middle-class working women. Leisure Studies, 40(6), 837-853. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2021.1942519
Nath, K., & Dwivedi, R. (2021). Tribal women’s work-life balance: an identity-based approach. Gender in Management: An International Journal, 36(4), 482-497. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/GM-07-2020-0219
Nayar, D., & Kapur, S. (2023). An exploratory factor analysis examining psychological correlates among females. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science, 106-115. http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v22i20.66318
Park, G. R., Rim, H., & Kim, J. (2024, March). Partner's contribution to housework and couple bonding activities among Korean working women: Heterogeneity by socioeconomic status. In Women's Studies International Forum (Vol. 103, p. 102887). Pergamon. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2024.102887
Pearce, M., Strain, T., Wijndaele, K., Sharp, S. J., Mok, A., & Brage, S. (2021). Is occupational physical activity associated with mortality in UK Biobank?. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 18(1), 102. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-021-01154-3
Portella, C. F. S., Sorpreso, I. C. E., de Assis, A. D. S. M., de Abreu, L. C., Junior, J. M. S., Baracat, E. C., ... & Tanaka, A. C. D. A. (2021). Meditation as an approach to lessen menopausal symptoms and insomnia in working women undergoing the menopausal transition period: A randomized controlled trial. Advances in Integrative Medicine, 8(4), 278-284. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aimed.2020.08.003
Rahat, H., Qazi, W. A., Bokhari, N. A., Jahan, S., Begum, R., & Ur Rasheed, H. (2020). Association of breastfeeding cessation with health-related quality of life in working multiparous women of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Breast, 6, 3-0. https://doi.org/10.5455/jpma.31045
Rai, S. K., Oberoi, S., Balgir, R. S., Ahir, D., Singh, H., & Rai, S. (2023). Assessing the utilization of postnatal services among mothers: A cross-sectional study. Cureus, 15(10). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.47000
Rakhshani, T., Saeedi, P., Kashfi, S. M., Bazrafkan, L., Kamyab, A., & Khani Jeihooni, A. (2024). The relationship between spiritual health, quality of life, stress, anxiety and depression in working women. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1366230. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1366230
Ramadan, W., Abu Alim, M., Khamis, M., & El-Gilany, A. H. (2024). Health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) and its barriers among working women at Mansoura University, Egypt. Diseases, 12(12), 318. https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases12120318
Ramyashree, S., Veigas, J., & Kanagal, D. (2024). Severity of menopausal symptoms on quality of life among working women. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 13(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_802_23
Riaz, M. (2024). Comparative semiotics of womanhood: portrayal of Chinese and Pakistani women in contemporary paintings. Chinese Semiotic Studies, 20(4), 597-624. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5080282
Sasaki, N., Imamura, K., Watanabe, K., Hidaka, Y., Ando, E., Eguchi, H., ... & Kawakami, N. (2022). The impact of workplace psychosocial factors on menstrual disorders and infertility: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. Systematic Reviews, 11(1), 195. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-022-02066-4
Shimamoto, K., Hirano, M., Wada-Hiraike, O., Goto, R., & Osuga, Y. (2021). Examining the association between menstrual symptoms and health-related quality of life among working women in Japan using the EQ-5D. BMC Women's Health, 21(1), 325. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-021-01462-7
Sop, S. A. (2014). İş baskısı, iş-serbest zaman çatışması, meslek memnuniyeti ve yaşam doyumu ilişkisi üzerine bir inceleme [An investigation into the relationship between job pressure, work-free time conflict, job satisfaction, and life satisfaction]. Turizm Akademik Dergisi, 1(1), 1-14.
Stebbins, R. A. (2015). Serious leisure: A perspective for our time (paperback edition). New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers.
Theis, S., Baumgartner, S. J., Janka, H., Kolokythas, A., Skala, C., & Stute, P. (2023). Quality of life in menopausal women in the workplace–a systematic review. Climacteric, 26(2), 80-87. https://doi.org/10.1080/13697137.2022.2158729
Veal, A. J. (2020). Is there enough leisure time? Leisure studies, work-life balance, the realm of necessity and the realm of freedom. World Leisure Journal, 62(2), 89-113. https://doi.org/10.1080/16078055.2019.1667423
Verburgh, M., Verdonk, P., Appelman, Y., Brood-van Zanten, M., & Nieuwenhuijsen, K. (2020). “I get that spirit in me”—mentally empowering workplace health promotion for female workers in low-paid jobs during menopause and midlife. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(18), 6462. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2021.12.1634
Verdonk, P., Bendien, E., & Appelman, Y. (2022). Menopause and work: A narrative literature review about menopause, work and health. Work, 72(2), 483-496. https://doi.org/10.3233/wor-205214
Vignes, S., Fau-Prudhomot, P., Simon, L., Sanchez-Bréchot, M. L., Arrault, M., & Locher, F. (2020). Impact of breast cancer–related lymphedema on working women. Supportive Care in Cancer, 28(1), 79-85.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-04804-2
Viotti, S., Guidetti, G., Converso, D., & Sottimano, I. (2020). Fostering work ability among menopausal women. Does any work-related psychosocial factor help?. International Journal of Women's Health, 399-407. https://doi.org/10.2147/ijwh.s230796
Yadav, R., Kumar, P., & Chawla, J. K. (2024). Identification of factors associated with nonspecific neck pain in working women. Journal of Health and Allied Sciences NU. http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0044-1786994
Yuan, L., & Cao, J. (2023). Application of data mining in female sports behavior prediction based on FCM algorithm. Soft Computing, 27(14), 10045-10055. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00500-023-08211-y
Yun, I., Jung, Y. H., Park, E. C., & Jang, S. I. (2022). The impact of work interference with family on depressive symptoms among married working women: A longitudinal panel study. PLoS one, 17(11), e0276230. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276230
Zhang, H., Yang, Y., & Sun, S. (2024). It is not a vacation of leisure: The effect of maternity-leave stigma on fertility intentions in China. Acta psychologica, 248, 104413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104413
Waller, S. N., Wozencroft, A. J., Scott, J. L., Shaw, S., & Picariello, M. (2020). An exploratory study of the occupational mobility patterns of African American women working in public sector parks and recreation organizations in the United States. Managing Sport and Leisure, 25(6), 418-440. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2020.1723433
Wang, H., Zhang, T., Lu, M., Zeng, Y., Xiao, Y., Ren, X., & Zhang, P. (2021). Effects of physical activity and counselling interventions on health outcomes among working women in shanghai. Journal of sports science & medicine, 20(1), 77. https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2021.77
Xiao, Y., Zhang, T., Gu, X., Lee, J., & Wang, H. (2020). The Roles of Individual and Psychosocial Factors in Predicting Quality of Life Among Working Women in Shanghai. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(5), 1751.http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph170
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 Isagoge - Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences