Measurement of the main factors involved in teleworking: Validation of the E-Work Life Scale among Romanian teleworkers

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Balgiu, Beatrice Adriana

Affiliations: Department of Career and Educational Training, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independenţei, 060042, Bucharest, Romania E-mail: beatrice.balgiu@upb.ro

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Since most global organizations adopted teleworking since the COVID-19 pandemic, measuring teleworking-related concepts and its implications have become vital. OBJECTIVE:The aim of the study consisted in the validation and the examination of the psychometric properties of the E-Work Life Scale (EWLS) which measures the relevant teleworking-related aspects: work-life interference, productivity, organizational trust, and flexibility. METHODS:To this aim, a group of teleworkers (N = 357; Mage = 38.90) completed the set of scales on which the study was based. The construct validity of the scale was examined by means of the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the internal consistency by using Cronbach’s α, McDonald’s ω, and composite reliability (CR). Associations between the EWLS and the measures of life satisfaction, positive and negative affect and subjective well-being were also considered. A structural equation model is conducted to analyze the relationship between EWLS factors and life satisfaction. RESULTS:The findings obtained through CFA support the construct validity of the EWLS that is identical with the original version of the scale, which contains the four factors (χ2/df = 2.61; CFI = 0.93; RMSEA = 0.069; SRMR = 0.067). The internal consistency is good for the four factors, as well as for the total score of the scale (αs > 0.69; ωs > 0.75; CRs > 0.78). Work-life interference is the factor that is most associated with subjective well-being. The dimensions of the EWLS determine the life satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS:The results lead us to believe that EWLS is a promising instrument for the assessment of the factors involved in teleworking.

Keywords: Teleworking, work-life balance, efficiency, COVID-19

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211153

Journal: Work, vol. 74, no. 2, pp. 699-709, 2023