Examining the Impact of Working Conditions on Job Performance, Emotional Exhaustion and Work-life Balance of Social Workers in Health-Providing Institutions in Vadodara, Gujarat

Abstract

Social workers are essential to India's healthcare system, providing psychosocial support, advocacy, and rehabilitation, yet they often face excessive demands, limited resources, and emotional exhaustion that compromise their performance. This research applied the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) framework to observe how working conditions influence job performance among social workers in Vadodara, Gujarat, with emotional exhaustion and work-life balance as mediators. A cross-sectional design was adopted, and data was collected from 182 social workers across public hospitals, private institutions, and non-governmental organizations, of which 176 valid responses were analyzed. Hypothesized correlations were tested using structural equation modeling, and the validity and reliability of the constructs were demonstrated. Findings revealed that poor working conditions significantly increased emotional exhaustion, while favourable conditions enhanced both work-life balance stability and job performance. Mediation analysis showed that emotional exhaustion negatively influenced performance, whereas work-life balance exerted a positive effect. The model explained 39% of change in emotional exhaustion, 44% in work-life balance, and 46% in job performance. The research concludes that psychosocial work environments play a central role in shaping social workers’ effectiveness. Enhancing organizational support, maintaining manageable caseloads, and promoting work-life balance are practical strategies to reduce strain and sustain productivity. These results broaden the scope of JD-R theory's applicability to the Indian setting and offer helpful guidelines for institutional and legislative changes.