From Descriptive Experiences to Latent Dimensions: Scale Development of Work–Life Balance Among Generation Z Faculty in Higher Education Using an Exploratory Sequential Design

This study developed and provided initial validation of a contextually grounded Work–Life Balance Scale for Generation Z faculty in higher education using an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design. The qualitative phase involved in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 21 purposively selected Gen Z faculty members from private higher education institutions in Region XI, Philippines—thematic analysis generated 14 experiential dimensions, which were operationalized into a 74-item pool. Content validation demonstrated strong representativeness (S-CVI/Ave = 1.00), supporting the adequacy of the construct at the conceptual level. In the quantitative phase, data from 215 respondents were analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) with maximum likelihood extraction and Promax rotation. Preliminary tests indicated marginal but acceptable sampling adequacy (KMO = 0.500) and significant inter-item correlations (Bartlett’s test, p < .001). Iterative EFA refinement reduced the instrument from 74 to 68 items and ultimately to a 54-item structure, yielding a 12-factor model with strong and interpretable loadings (λ ≥ .50). The emergent dimensions encompassed organizational support, psychological well-being, role integration, contextual balance, boundary regulation, family-centered dynamics, and digital control, reflecting the multidimensional and adaptive nature of work–life balance among Generation Z faculty. The findings extended existing work–life balance frameworks by integrating generation-specific and culturally embedded dimensions, highlighting the role of institutional resources, personal regulation, and socio-cultural expectations in shaping balance outcomes. The resulting scale provided a theoretically grounded and empirically supported measurement tool for assessing work–life balance among Gen Z faculty in higher education. Further validation through confirmatory factor analysis and cross-contextual testing was recommended to establish structural robustness and generalizability.