Career Sustainability: Exploring the Role of Leisure and Work-Related Factors

Career sustainability has been implicitly a longstanding research topic, yet contemporary challenges such as burnout and quiet quitting increasingly jeopardize its attainment. This study, based on the premise that a balanced work-life equilibrium and cultivated psychological resources from both professional and personal spheres foster long-term career viability, explores the influence of leisure activities and various work-related factors on career sustainability. The variables examined include demographic factors (such as weekly leisure activity duration), satisfaction with career, life, and leisure time, and psychological resources (hope, optimism, resilience, future orientation, detachment, and reattachment), alongside career-threatening factors (disengagement, exhaustion, and quiet quitting). The hypothesis posited that career sustainability would be positively influenced by psychological resources, linked to participation in leisure activities. Additionally it was hypothesized that burnout poses a particular challenge for individuals in the health and social care sector. A total of 118 working participants were surveyed online using ten questionnaires. Multilevel analysis revealed no age and gender differences; however, unexpectedly, health and social care sector workers showed lower levels of disengagement and higher levels of reattachment compared to other sectors. When considering time spent on leisure activities, significant differences emerged in work-life balance, life satisfaction, leisure satisfaction, and burnout indicators (i.e., exhaustion and disengagement). Furthermore, hope, optimism, resilience, and future orientation predicted leisure satisfaction. The results underscore the importance of fostering psychological resources and engaging in leisure activities, to maintain the happiness, health, and productivity of working individuals, thereby promoting career sustainability.