Balancing acts
Navigating school, work, and life among female pre-service teachers in the Philippines
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32674/9j37bh77Keywords:
school, work, work-life balance, female, Student Mental Health, preservice teacherAbstract
Balancing school, work, and personal life presents significant challenges for emerging young adult female students in pre-service teacher education programs. This qualitative study examined their lived experiences via a phenomenological approach. Five participants were selected through purposive sampling, and data were collected through semi-structured online interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi’s method. Key challenges included time conflicts, role strain, and emotional stress. Despite prioritizing academics and personal well-being, participants demonstrated resilience, supported by family, faculty, and peers. They employed self-regulation and adaptability to cope. The study recommends flexible academic policies, responsive school programs, enhanced financial aid, on-campus jobs, faculty training, and industry collaboration to reduce burdens and improve academic success for working students
References
Abenoja, R., Accion, N., Aguilar, J., Alcasid, M., Amoguis, A., Buraquit, D., ... & Pame, J. (2019). The experiences of working while studying: A phenomenological study of senior high school students. University of Immaculate Conception.
Alhazmi, A. A., & Kaufmann, A. (2022). Phenomenological qualitative methods applied to the analysis of Cross-Cultural experience in novel educational social contexts. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.785134
Allen, T. D., Herst, D. E., Bruck, C. S., & Sutton, M. (2000). Consequences associated with work-to-family conflict: A review and agenda for future research. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 5(2), 278-308. https://doi.org/10.1037//1076-8998.5.2.278
Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist, 55, 469- 480. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.5.469.
Arnett, J. J. (2011). Emerging adulthood(s): The cultural psychology of a new life stage. In Jensen LA, (ed). Bridging cultural and developmental psychology: New syntheses in theory, research, and policy., (pp. 255-275). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199757176.001.0001.
Arnett, J. J., Zukauskiene, R. & Sugimary, K. (2014). The new life stage of emerging adulthood 18-29: Implications for mental health. The Lancet Psychiatry, 1, 569-576
Benner, K., & Curl, A. L. (2018). Exhausted, stressed, and disengaged: Does employment create burnout for social work students? Journal of Social Work Education, 54(2), 300–309. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2017.1341858
Boamah, S. A., Hamadi, H. Y., Havaei, F., Smith, H., & Webb, F. (2022). Striking a Balance between Work and Play: The Effects of Work–Life Interference and Burnout on Faculty Turnover Intentions and Career Satisfaction. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(2), 809. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19020809
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2014). What can “thematic analysis” offer health and wellbeing researchers? International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, 9(1), 26152. https://doi.org/10.3402/qhw.v9.26152
Buonomo, I., Fiorilli, C., Romano, L., & Benevene, P. (2020). The Roles of Work-Life Conflict and Gender in the Relationship between Workplace Bullying and Personal Burnout. A Study on Italian School Principals. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(23), 8745. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17238745
Burnett, S., Gatrell, C., Cooper, C., & Sparrow, P. (2010). Well‐balanced families? Gender in Management an International Journal, 25(7), 534–549. https://doi.org/10.1108/17542411011081356
Cacho, R. M., Abenes, R. D., Dejapa, R. R., & Mapula, H. R. (2022). Employability of technology and livelihood education graduates. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE), 11(4), 2165. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v11i4.23207
Canto, B. , Gerapusco, L. , Mangudadatu, J. , Relatado, J. & Badie, J. (2023). Juggling Academics and Work: The Experiences of Marist Working Students. Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 10(7), 699-711. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8132757
Choo, C. E. K., Kan, Z. X., & Cho, E. (2019). A review of the literature on the SchoolWork-Life Interface. Journal of Career Development, 48(3), 290–305. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845319841170
Cinamon, R. G. (2016). Integrating Work and Study Among Young Adults: Testing an Empirical Model. Journal of Career Assessment, 24(3), 527-542. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072715599404
Creed, P. A., French, J., & Hood, M. (2015). Working while studying at university: The relationship between work benefits and demands and engagement and well-being. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 86, 48-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2014.11.002
Colaizzi, P.F. (1978) Psychological research as a phenomenologist views it. In: Valle, R.S. and King, M., Eds., Existential-Phenomenological Alternatives for Psychology, Oxford University Press, New York, 48-71.
Delmas, P. M., & Giles, R. L. (2023). Qualitative research approaches and their application in education. In R. J. Tierney, F. Rizvi, & K. Ercikan (Eds.), International Encyclopedia of Education (4th ed., pp. 24-32). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818630-5.11003-6
Demoura, A. (2021). Emerging adults and adulthood. Nova Science Publishers.
Drăghici, G., & Cazan, A. (2022). Burnout and maladjustment among employed students. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.825588
Fiorilli, C., Barni, D., Russo, C., Marchetti, V., Angelini, G., & Romano, L. (2022). Students’ burnout at university: the role of gender and worker status. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(18), 11341. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811341
Foley, M., Oxenbridge, S., Cooper, R., & Baird, M. (2020). ‘I’ll never be one of the boys’: Gender harassment of women working as pilots and automotive tradespeople. Gender Work and Organization, 29(5), 1676–1691. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwao.12443
Ford, J., & Collinson, D. (2011). In search of the perfect manager? Work-life balance and managerial work. Work Employment and Society, 25(2), 257–273. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017011398895
Greenhaus, J. H., Collins, K. M., & Shaw, J. D. (2003). The relation between work–family balance and quality of life. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 63(3), 510–531. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0001-8791(02)00042-8
Haar, J. M., Russo, M., Suñe, A., & Ollier-Malaterre, A. (2014). Outcomes of work–life balance on job satisfaction, life satisfaction and mental health: A study across seven cultures. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 85(3), 361–373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2014.08.010
Hatcher, R., & Hwang, Y. (2020). Optimizing Study-life Balance within Higher Education: A Comprehensive Literature Review. The Journal of Economics, Marketing and Management, 8(2), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.20482/JEMM.2020.8.2.1
Friesen, N., Henriksson, C., & Saevi, T. (2012). Hermeneutic phenomenology in education: Method and practice. Springer Science & Business Media.
Hill, E. J., Hawkins, A. J., Ferris, M., & Weitzman, M. (2001). Finding an extra day a week: The positive influence of perceived job flexibility on work and family life balance. Family Relations, 50(1), 49–58. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741- 3729.2001.00049.x
James, A. (2014). Work–Life ‘Balance’, recession and the gendered limits to learning and innovation (Or, why it pays employers to care). Gender Work and Organization, 21(3), 273–294. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwao.12037
Lanuza , M. H., Gonzales, R. A., Alba, S. , Aligam, N. P. & Barrion, L. O. (2024). A Phenomenological Inquiry on the Struggles and Aspirations of the First-Generation Female Graduates. PAPSCU Excellent Academic Research Link (PEARL) Bulletin , 4(1), 33-54.
Laughman, C., Boyd, E. M., & Rusbasan, D. (2016). Burnout as a mediator between Work–School conflict and work outcomes. Journal of Career Development, 43(5), 413–425. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845316633523
Lee, J. Y., Yang, Y. S., Ryu, G. W., & Lee, K. (2024). Lived experiences of work-life balance among doctoral nursing students: a qualitative descriptive study. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2406975
Lingard, H. (2007). Conflict Between Paid Work and Study: Does it Impact upon Students’ Burnout and Satisfaction with University Life? Journal for Education in the Built Environment, 2(1), 90–109. https://doi.org/10.11120/jebe.2007.02010090
Maquiling, A. P. (2018). Working students: their benefits, challenges and coping mechanisms. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Working-Students%3A-Their-Benefits%2C-Challenges-and-Maquiling/b6c972e4ca72e08699f66273d81676a708b16c13
McNall, L. A., & Michel, J. S. (2010). A Dispositional Approach to Work–School Conflict and Enrichment. Journal of Business and Psychology, 26(3), 397–411. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-010-9187-0
McNall, L. A., & Michel, J. S. (2016). The relationship between student core self-evaluations, support for school, and the work–school interface. Community Work & Family, 20(3), 253–272. https://doi.org/10.1080/13668803.2016.1249827
Mordi, T., Adisa, T. A., Adekoya, O. D., Sani, K. F., Mordi, C., & Akhtar, M. N. (2023). A comparative study of the work–life balance experiences and coping mechanisms of Nigerian and British single student-working mothers. Career Development International, 28(2), 217–233. https://doi.org/10.1108/cdi-10-2022-0280
Nicklin, J. (2017). Work-life balance in the 21st century: Perspectives, Practices, and Challenges. Nova Science Publishers.
Nyimbili, F., & Nyimbili, L. (2024). Types of Purposive Sampling Techniques with Their Examples and Application in Qualitative Research Studies. British Journal of Multidisciplinary and Advanced Studies, 5(1), 90–99. https://doi.org/10.37745/bjmas.2022.0419
O’Mahony, M. A., & Jeske, D. (2019). Study-Work-Life Balance of International Students in the Context of Temporal Boundaries. Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education, 7(2), 63-79. https://doi.org/10.32674/jise.v7i2.1212
Olson, K. J. (2014). Development and initial validation of a measure of work, family, and school conflict. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 19(1), 46–59. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034927
Ong, D., & Ramia, G. (2009). Study-work-life balance and the welfare of international students. Labour & Industry: a journal of the social and economic relations of work, 20(2), 181-206. https://doi.org/10.1080/10301763.2009.10669399
Park, Y., & Sprung, J. M. (2013). Work–school conflict and health outcomes: Beneficial resources for working college students. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 18(4), 384–394. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033614
Picton, A. (2021). Work-life balance in medical students: self-care in a culture of self-sacrifice. BMC Medical Education, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-020-02434-5
Sanders, C. (2003). Application of Colaizzi’s method: Interpretation of an auditable decision trail by a novice researcher. Contemporary Nurse, 14(3), 292–302. https://doi.org/10.5172/conu.14.3.292
Schaufeli, W. B., Desart, S., & De Witte, H. (2020). Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT)— Development, Validity, and Reliability. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(24), 9495. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249495
Sirgy, M. J., & Lee, D. (2017). Work-Life Balance: an Integrative Review. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 13(1), 229–254. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-017-9509-8
Shosha, G. A. (2012). Employment of Colaizzi's strategy in descriptive phenomenology: A reflection of a researcher. European Scientific Journal, 8(27).
Sprung, J. M., & Rogers, A. (2020). Work-life balance as a predictor of college student anxiety and depression. Journal of American College Health, 69(7), 775–782. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2019.1706540
Sudweste, J. M. V., & Jumamil, A. N. L. (2024). Ina- Manggagawa- Mag-aaral: the lived experiences, challenges, coping and aspirations of working- student- mothers. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Applied Business and Education Research, 5(4), 1277–1297. https://doi.org/10.11594/ijmaber.05.04.15
Van Rooij, E., Fokkens-Bruinsma, M., & Jansen, E. (2021). Factors that influence PhD candidates’ success: the importance of PhD project characteristics. Studies in Continuing Education, 43(1), 48–67. https://doi.org/10.1080/0158037x.2019.1652158
Vokić, N. P., Bilušić, M. R., & Perić, I. (2021). Work-Study-Life Balance – the Concept, its Dyads, Socio-Demographic Predictors and Emotional Consequences. Zagreb International Review of Economics and Business/Zagreb International Review of Economics & Business, 24(s1), 77–94. https://doi.org/10.2478/zireb-2021-0021
World Health Organization. (2022, June 17). Mental health. World Health Organization (WHO). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response
Wyland, R., Lester, S. W., Ehrhardt, K., & Standifer, R. (2015). An examination of the relationship between the Work–School interface, job satisfaction, and job performance. Journal of Business and Psychology, 31(2), 187–203. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-015-9415-8
Xu, L., & Song, R. (2013). Development and validation of the work–family–school role conflicts and role-related social support scales among registered nurses with multiple roles. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 50(10), 1391–1398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2013.01.003
Yang, H. (2004). Factors affecting student burnout and academic achievement in multiple enrollment programs in Taiwan’s technical–vocational colleges. International Journal of Educational Development, 24(3), 283–301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2003.12.001
Yang, J. W., Suh, C., Lee, C. K., & Son, B. C. (2018). The work–life balance and psychosocial well-being of South Korean workers. Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 30(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-018-0250-z
Additional Files
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Joy Angelle Remojo, Reynald Cacho

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.




