V3I3P40

The Relationship between Work-Life Balance, Job Stress, and Artificial Intelligence: A Comprehensive Literature Review

Dr. Damanpreet Kaur^1*

Abstract

This literature review examines the complex and evolving relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, work-life balance (WLB), and job stress in contemporary workplaces. Drawing from 30 highly relevant empirical and conceptual studies published primarily between 2021 and 2025, this review reveals that AI presents a paradoxical influence on employee well-being. On one hand, AI-driven automation, intelligent scheduling systems, and wellness interventions can reduce repetitive tasks, enhance time management, and lower workplace stress, thereby improving work-life balance. On the other hand, AI deployment introduces new stressors, including technostress, job insecurity, algorithmic management pressures, and work-family boundary erosion, which can exacerbate stress and undermine work-life integration. The review identifies key theoretical frameworks—particularly the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, technostress theory, and Conservation of Resources (COR) theory—that explain these dual pathways. Methodologically, the literature is dominated by quantitative surveys employing structural equation modeling, though mixed-methods and conceptual studies provide important contextual insights. Critical mediating factors include job autonomy, trust in AI, personalization of AI tools, and organizational HR practices. The review concludes that the net impact of AI on work-life balance and stress depends heavily on implementation strategies, ethical considerations, and organizational support systems. Future research should focus on longitudinal designs, cross-cultural comparisons, and the development of AI-specific well-being frameworks.

Keywords:

Work–Life Balance, Job Stress, Artificial Intelligence, Literature Review