Between Duty and Ambition: Navigating Work-Family Imbalance Among Professional Women Leaders in Pakistan

Abstract

The study examined the work-family imbalance experienced by female professional leaders and its association with work stress. The paper contends that existing literature largely overlooks the unique work-family conflicts faced by women in leadership roles within Pakistan’s sociocultural context. Moreover, there is limited insight into how work-family support systems could be integrated into institutional frameworks. Drawing on Spillover Theory, the study explains how the interplay of professional demands, familial duties, and cultural expectations exacerbates work-family tensions, adversely affecting both individual health and institutional performance. Using Facilitation Theory, the research further explores how targeted work-family support mechanisms can mitigate these imbalances. Data were collected from 271 female professional leaders. However, the findings also indicate that robust organizational support systems, such as flexible scheduling, empathetic leadership, and formal work-life policies, can substantially reduce stress and restore equilibrium.

Keywords: Spillover Theory, family life enhancement, organizational support, Work-family imbalance.