An empirical study of social support, stress and life satisfaction among engineering graduates: mediating role of perceived work/study life balance

Escalating stress, depression and suicidal attempts in universities have led to the increased importance of research into the impact of perceived stress, support, work-life balance and life satisfaction amongst engineering graduates. This study is an initiative to assess the dimensions of work-life balance among university graduates and finding its impact on their overall life satisfaction. Additionally, this study investigates the joint effects of social support and stress on the work-life balance and the likely mediating effect of work-life balance on support-satisfaction relationship using structural equation modelling approach. A self-report questionnaire was administered to collect primary data from 232 final year engineering students. Findings indicate a significant positive relationship between variables like social support, work-life balance and life satisfaction while stress has a negative impact on work-life balance and life satisfaction among students. However, the relationship between social support and life satisfaction is partially mediated by work-life balance of graduates. Limitations of this research and the implications to both work-life balance literature and engineering graduates are discussed in accordance with the findings.