Impact of Information and Communication Technologies on Work-Life Balance – A Systematic Review of the Literature

Diminishing and blurring boundaries between work and related time or family and related time, has triggered research on how balancing work and family life (WLB) has been impacted by the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs). A systematic review of the literature was done and search was conducted in a major database SCOPUS. Only articles in peer-reviewed journals, from the year 2000 onwards were included. It was evident that the concept of WLB has been defined differently by researchers in line with different WLB theories like conflict theory, enrichment theory, role balance/ role enhancement etc. Researchers have mostly used multi-item measures or scales that are both unidirectional and multidirectional. Role of technology is considered by researchers as either unidirectional and deterministic or bidirectional and socially shaped. ICT itself has been treated either as a whole or device specific thus adding to heterogeneity. Most empirical research has followed either quantitative or qualitative methods and in rare cases both together. Several positive effects of ICT were reported by researchers like better coordination, flexibility, greater control, better learning outcomes and job satisfaction. Negative effects reported included boundary blurring, higher expectations, stress, burnouts, conflict and anxieties. Factors like greater clarity on theoretical paradigm followed, use of both quantitative and qualitative methods and inclusion of special populations like families with children and older age group and variables job autonomy and employment status, may provide further insights.