Work-life Balance through the Eyes of Gen Z: A Multimodal Analysis of Multilingual Students' Perspectives
Keywords:
work-life balance (WLB), Gen Z, multilingual studentAbstract
This research study investigated how Gen Z multilingual students conceptualize work life balance (WLB) and explored how their academic backgrounds influence these perceptions. Using a multimodal discourse analysis approach, data were collected from video clips on the theme “Work-life Balance on Screen,” created by 180 university students who were learners of Thai, English, and Japanese at a private university in Bangkok, Thailand. Students were given creative freedom to portray their understanding of WLB in a multilingual format. Analysis revealed that participants conceptualized work-life balance in three ways: as personal well-being (55.56%), as a flexible lifestyle (33.33%), and as a struggle (11.11%). The study found that students' fields of study significantly influenced these conceptualizations, with Business Administration students primarily viewing WLB as personal well-being, IT students as a flexible lifestyle, and Engineering students as a struggle. The results reflect Gen Z's prioritization of relaxation, self-care, and mental well-being in their approach to balancing work and life.
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