Work-Life Balance and Mental Well-Being among Banking Employees: Effects of Emotional Intelligence, Social Media Use and Natural Health-Based Interventions

Abstract

High-performance demands, high customer contact, a rapid pace of technological change, and high levels of overlap between occupational and personal life characterize banking work. This investigation aimed to examine the association between emotional intelligence and two different social media usage patterns with work-life balance and mental health, and to evaluate a structured nature-based program for bank employees. Phase I involved a three-wave survey of 512 public and private bank employees in India, with 438 providing complete longitudinal data for analysis. A total of 160 employees participated in the eight-week randomized study with an active comparison condition in Phase II. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were used to test survey hypotheses, while intention-to-treat linear mixed-effects models were used to analyse intervention outcomes. Emotional intelligence was positively related to work-life balance (β = .38, p < .001) and mental well-being (β = .22, p < .001), and work-life balance was positively related to mental well-being (β = .41, p < .001). Problematic social media use was negatively associated with work-life balance (β = −.29) and mental well-being (β = −.18), and functional use was positively associated with mental well-being (β = .17). Participants in the nature-based condition improved more than those in the active control on both outcomes. The results collectively suggest the importance of emotional resources, conscious digital behaviors, and opportunities for recovery at work.