Don’t worry, be work balanced! The relationship of neuroticism, self-efficacy, and work-nonwork balance

Work-nonwork balance remains a consistently pertinent topic due to its beneficial impact on both employees and employers. We provide evidence that work-nonwork balance is not just an organizational issue but is partly determined by personality. Nevertheless, the organizational context plays a pivotal role in implementing and firmly anchoring interventions. This study investigates the negative relationship of neuroticism and work-nonwork balance and the extent to which self-efficacy, as a personal cognitive resource, mediates this relationship. To examine this relationship, we conducted a quantitative online survey involving 190 employed adults from various organizations in Germany. We assessed the constructs of work-nonwork balance, neuroticism, and self-efficacy. Using regression analysis and mediation analysis, we demonstrate that neuroticism has a significantly negative impact on work-nonwork balance, and this relationship is partially mediated by self-efficacy. This article discusses the study’s limitations, such as its cross-sectional nature, and offers theoretical and practical implications regarding the development, maintenance, and improvement of individual self-efficacy.