Life satisfaction in Malaysia is influenced by socio-demographics such as marital status, age, gender, religiosity, ethnicity and geographical area. However, there is also additional external factor that influenced women’s life satisfaction which is work-life conflict. This study aims to investigate women’s work-life conflict in relation to their life satisfaction based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Secondly, this study also investigates women’s level of life satisfaction in Sabah, Malaysia. A quantitative research design by using self-administered questionnaire via online Google Form and physical hand-in was used to answer the research objectives. A total of 348 female respondents have voluntarily participated in the study that work in government institutions, by using convenience sampling method. Based on findings, work-life conflict has negatively correlated with a strong correlation of -0.373 towards life satisfaction and vice versa. In addition, female respondents’ level of life satisfaction is overall between neutral. This study offers new insights where one of insights is women in Sabah, Malaysia, especially female government servants feel unsure whether that they are highly satisfied in life, especially individuals in the mid 30’s and above.      

References

Adams, G. A., & Jex, S. M. (1999). Relationships between time management, control, work-family conflict, and strain. Journal of occupational health psychology, 4(1), 72-77. https://doi.org/10.1037//1076-8998.4.1.72

Alias, A. H., Zamzuri, Z., & Mohd Suradi, N. R. (2021). The Profile of Female Labor Force Participation in Malaysia Based on Recursive Partitioning Analyses. Malaysian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, 17, 226-241. https://doi.org/10.11113/mjfas.v17n3.2041

Arham, A., Norizan, N. S., Ridzuan, A. R., Alwi, S., & Arham, A. (2019). Work – Life Conflicts among Women in Malaysia: A Preliminary Study. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 9. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v9-i9/6337

Borzumato-Gainey, C., Kennedy, A., McCabe, B., & Degges-White, S. (2009). Life Satisfaction, Self-Esteem, and Subjective Age in Women Across the Life Span. Adultspan Journal, 8. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0029.2009.tb00055.x

Carlson, D., Kacmar, K., & Williams, L. (2000). Construction and Initial Validation of a Multidimensional Measure of Work–Family Conflict. Journal of vocational behavior, 56, 249-276. https://doi.org/10.1006/jvbe.1999.1713

Cazan, A.-M., Truța, C., & Pavalache-Ilie, M. (2019). The Work-Life Conflict and Satisfaction with Life: Correlates and the Mediating Role of the Work-Family Conflict.

Cham, C. A.-O., Ibrahim, N., Kalaman, C. A.-O., Ho, M. C., Visvalingam, U., Ahmad Shahabuddin, F.,…Siau, C. S. (2024). Factors associated with depression, anxiety, and satisfaction with life among Malaysian parental caregivers of adolescent psychiatric patients: A cross-sectional study. (2054-4251 (Print)).

Cowan, G., Neighbors, C., DeLaMoreaux, J., & Behnke, C. (1998). WOMEN'S HOSTILITY TOWARD WOMEN. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 22(2), 267-284. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6402.1998.tb00154.x

Degges-White, S., & Kepic, M. (2020). Friendships, Subjective Age, and Life Satisfaction of Women in Midlife [https://doi.org/10.1002/adsp.12086]. Adultspan Journal, 19(1), 39-53. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/adsp.12086

Diener, E., Emmons, R., Larsen, R., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction With Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71-75. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13

Diener, E., Emmons Ra Fau - Larsen, R. J., Larsen Rj Fau - Griffin, S., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction With Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment(0022-3891 ). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13

Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction With Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71-75. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13

Dierdorff, E. C., & Ellington, J. K. (2008). It's the nature of the work: Examining behavior-based sources of work-family conflict across occupations. Journal of Applied Psychology, 93(4), 883-892. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.93.4.883

DOSM. (2023). Statistics On Women Empowerment In Selected Domains, Malaysia https://www.dosm.gov.my/portal-main/release-content/32b46d37-8b84-11ed-96a6-1866daa77ef9

Dudová, R., & Pospíšilová, K. (2022). Why Women Leave Earlier: What Is Behind the Earlier Labour Market Exit of Women in the Czech Republic *. Sociologicky Casopis, 58(3), 257-283. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.13060/csr.2022.014

Fard, M. K., Shahabi, R., & Zardkhaneh, S. A. (2013). Religiosity and Marital Satisfaction. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 82, 307-311. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.06.266

Frey, B. S., & Stutzer, A. (2002). What Can Economists Learn from Happiness Research? Journal of Economic Literature, 40(2), 402-435. http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.ums.edu.my/stable/2698383

Gedikli, C., Miraglia, M., Connolly, S., Bryan, M., & Watson, D. (2023). The relationship between unemployment and wellbeing: an updated meta-analysis of longitudinal evidence. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 32(1), 128-144. https://doi.org/10.1080/1359432X.2022.2106855

Greenhaus, J. H., & Beutell, N. J. (1985). Sources of Conflict between Work and Family Roles. The Academy of Management Review, 10(1), 76-88. https://doi.org/10.2307/258214

Hair, J., Black, W., Babin, B., & Anderson, R. (2010). Multivariate Data Analysis: A Global Perspective.

Hartman, P. (2016). Development and Validation of a Work-Life Conflict Scale: Identifying Energy and Emotion.

Hassan, N. A., Hafizah, N., Ahmad, R., Majeed, H., & Tajuddin, J. (2023). Mental Health in Malaysia: A Study of Gender Differences. Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (MJSSH), 8, e002608. https://doi.org/10.47405/mjssh.v8i12.2608

Hoe, S. L. (2008). Quantitative Methods Inquires 76 ISSUES AND PROCEDURES IN ADOPTING STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING TECHNIQUE.

Howell, R., Chong, W., Howell, C., & Schwabe, K. (2012). Happiness and Life Satisfaction in Malaysia. Happiness Across Cultures, 6, 43-55. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2700-7_4

Jawahir, S., Ganapathy, S., Jailani, A.-S., & Bakar, S. (2020). NHMS 2019 - Healthcare Demand.

Juli, E., Uddin, M., & Tangit, T. (2024a). The Role of Socio-Demographics Profile and Work-Life Conflict on Life Satisfaction Among Working-Class Women in Sabah, Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v14-i5/21639

Juli, E., Uddin, M. S., & Tangit, T. M. (2024b). Marital Status as the Mediator Role towards Work Engagement on Life Satisfaction Among Working Women in Sabah, Malaysia. Academic Journal of Business and Social Sciences(1), 1-14%V 18. https://doi.org/10.24191/ajobss.v8i1.27648

Kadir, N. B. y. A. (2012). Women’s voices in relation to fate, cultural practices and life satisfaction: A case study of Sarawakian single mothers in Samarahan, Sarawak. e-Bangi: Journal of Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 7(1). http://journalarticle.ukm.my/2829/1/norbaiyah012.pdf

Kahneman, D., Diener, E., & Schwarz, N. (1999). Well-Being

Foundations of Hedonic Psychology. Russell Sage Foundation. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7758/9781610443258

Khan, N., Yahya, B. a., Bakar, A., & Ho, R. (2015). Malaysian mental health law. BJPsych International, 12, 40-42. https://doi.org/10.1192/S2056474000000271

Kleinspehn-Ammerlahn, A., Kotter-Grühn, D., & Smith, J. (2008). Self-Perceptions of Aging: Do Subjective Age and Satisfaction With Aging Change During Old Age? The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 63(6), P377-P385. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/63.6.P377

Korayem, G. B., Alanazi, Y., Alanazi, H., Alkhodhairi, R., Alamer, S., Alshahrani, S. M., & Alsaleh, N. A. (2024). Exploring women’s perception and attitude towards antidepressant use: a cross-sectional study. BMC Women's Health, 24(1), 453. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03277-8

Kuppusamy, J., Angusamy, A., R.N, A., & Said, A.-M. (2023). Life Satisfaction Among Working Women in a Southeast Asian Country. Review of Applied Socio-Economic Research, 25, 125-137. https://doi.org/10.54609/reaser.v25i1.209

Lawrence, E. M., Rogers, R. G., Zajacova, A., & Wadsworth, T. (2019). Marital Happiness, Marital Status, Health, and Longevity. Journal of Happiness Studies, 20(5), 1539-1561. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-0009-9

Lee, D.-W., Hong, Y.-C., Seo, H.-y., Yun, J.-Y., Nam, S.-h., & Lee, N. (2021). Different Influence of Negative and Positive Spillover between Work and Life on Depression in a Longitudinal Study. Safety and Health at Work, 12(3), 377-383. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2021.05.002

Malek, N. B. A. (2016). Is Cohabitation an Alternative to Marriage? Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 219, 12-18. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.04.026

Manalel, J. A.-O., Birditt, K. S., Orbuch, T. L., & Antonucci, T. C. (2019). Beyond destructive conflict: Implications of marital tension for marital well-being. (1939-1293 (Electronic)).

Masuda, Y. J., Williams, J. R., & Tallis, H. (2021). Does Life Satisfaction Vary with Time and Income? Investigating the Relationship Among Free Time, Income, and Life Satisfaction. Journal of Happiness Studies, 22(5), 2051-2073. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-020-00307-8

Mental Capacity Act: Why does Malaysia need it and who will benefit from it? . (2024). Retrieved 20 December 2024 from https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Mental+Capacity+Act%3a+Why+does+Malaysia+need+it+and+who+will+benefit...-a0795934462

Michel, J., Kotrba, L., Deuling, J., Clark, M., & Baltes, B. (2011). Antecedents of work–family conflict: A meta‐analytic review. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 32, 689-725. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.695

Mohd Tamil, A., Ismail, N. H., Jaafar, M. H., Md Isa, Z., Ismail, R., Mat Nasir, N.,…Yusof, K. H. (2024). Depressive symptoms among adults: Baseline findings of PURE Malaysia cohort study. Heliyon, 10(1), e23042. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23042

Mud Shukri, M. A.-O., Minhat, H. S., Ahmad, N., Ismail, F., Kanthavelu, C., Nurfarahin, D.,…Mohd Zulkefli, N. A.-O. (2023). Prevalence and factors associated with depression, anxiety and stress in Malaysia during COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review. (1932-6203 (Electronic)).

Omar, M., Ahmad, M., & Ismail, I. (2016). Personal Factors and Work-Life Conflict: A Study of a Malaysian Statutory Body. https://doi.org/10.15405/epsbs.2016.11.02.24

Parker, G., Durante, K. M., Hill, S. E., & Haselton, M. G. (2022). Why women choose divorce: An evolutionary perspective. Current Opinion in Psychology, 43, 300-306. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.07.020

Peng, T. N., Li, L. S., & Lian, J. C. K. (2022). Demographic and Socioeconomic Changes in Sabah. Universiti Malaysia Sabah Press. https://books.google.com.my/books?id=V-twEAAAQBAJ

Peterson, C., Park, N., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2005). Orientations to happiness and life satisfaction: the full life versus the empty life. Journal of Happiness Studies, 6(1), 25-41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-004-1278-z

Raaj, S., Navanathan, S., Tharmaselan, M., & Lally, J. (2021). Mental disorders in Malaysia: an increase in lifetime prevalence. BJPsych International, 18(4), 97-99. https://doi.org/10.1192/bji.2021.4

Salleh, S. N. S., & Mansor, N. (2022). Women and Labour Force Participation in Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (MJSSH), 7(7), 9. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.47405/mjssh.v7i7.1641

Scheiner, J., & Holz-Rau, C. (2017). Women’s complex daily lives: a gendered look at trip chaining and activity pattern entropy in Germany. Transportation, 44(1), 117-138. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-015-9627-9

Sharma, S., & Kaur, R. (2019). Glass Ceiling for Women and Work Engagement: The Moderating Effect of Marital Status. FIIB Business Review, 8, 231971451984577. https://doi.org/10.1177/2319714519845770

Shukry, A. N. A. M., Zakaria, S. M., & Yusof, W. N. W. (2024). Cabaran Ekonomi Ibu Tunggal B40 di Selangor semasa Pandemik Covid-19 (Economic Challenges of Single Mothers B40 in Selangor During the Covid-19 Pandemic). e-Bangi: Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 21(3). https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/ebangi.2024.2103.38

Sirgy, M., Efraty, D., Siegel, P., & Lee, D.-J. (2001). A New Measure of Quality of Work Life (QWL) Based on Need Satisfaction and Spillover Theories. Social Indicators Research, 55, 241-302. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010986923468

Sousa, L., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2001). Life satisfaction. Encylopedia of Women and Gender: Sex Similarities and Differences and the Impact of Society on Gender, 2, 667-676.

Tripathi, S. (2020). Patriarchal beliefs and perceptions towards women among Indian police officers: A study of Uttar Pradesh, India. International Journal of Police Science & Management, 22(3), 232-241. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461355720905612

Vaughn, R. A. C., & Heaton, T. B. (1997). Religious Influence on Marital Stability. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 36(3), 382-392. https://doi.org/10.2307/1387856

Veenhoven, R. (2008). Sociological theories of subjective well-being. In The Science of Subjective Well-Being: A Tribute to Ed Diener (pp. 44-61). Guilford Publications. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254805273_Sociological_theories_of_subjective_well-being

Veenhoven, R. (2012). Happiness: Also Known as “Life Satisfaction” and “Subjective Well-Being”. In Handbook of Social Indicators and Quality of Life Research. (pp. 63-77). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2421-1_3

Yan, Z., Bai, N., Mansor, Z. D., & Choo, W. C. (2022). Effects of Psychological Capital and Person-Job Fit on Hospitality Employees’ Work-Family Conflict, Family-Work Conflict and Job Performance: The Moderating Role of Marital Status [Original Research]. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.868971

Yusof, N. S. M., & Nen, S. (2024). Lelaki Itu Aku: Meneroka Faktor Kecurangan Lelaki Dengan Wanita Berkahwin. (That Man Is Me: Exploring the Factors of Men's Infidelity with Married Women). e-Bangi: Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 21(3). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.17576/ebangi.2024.2103.37