Addressing Job Stress and Enhancing Work–Life Balance among ASHA Workers in Karnataka: Social Work Interventions and Policy Implications

Abstract

This study examines the interrelationship between job stress, well-being, and work–life balance among Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in Karnataka, employing a descriptive quantitative approach. A total of 1,310 ASHAs were surveyed using a structured interview schedule across four regional zones—North, South, Central, and Coastal Karnataka. Data analysis using SPSS revealed that 76.56% of respondents faced heavy workloads, 72.14% lacked adequate resources, and 66.26% reported low or irregular financial compensation, indicating deep-rooted structural inequities. More than 58% perceived their job as negatively affecting their physical or emotional health, while 62.95% cited excessive workloads and unrealistic deadlines as the primary sources of stress. Despite these pressures, 67% reported satisfaction with their work–life balance and derived intrinsic motivation from community service. Collaborative coping strategies, supportive supervision, and community engagement were identified as key factors in building resilience. The findings underscore the need for social-work-led interventions that focus on counselling, stress management, participatory supervision, and institutional reforms, such as fixed remuneration, regulated working hours, and welfare provisions. Policy implications suggest integrating psychosocial support, family-inclusive counselling, and workload rationalisation into Karnataka’s National Health Mission framework to foster a healthier and more sustainable ASHA workforce.