THE STATE OF WOMEN'S WORK, LIFE, AND VOLUNTEER BALANCE RESEARCH
Mixed methods research uses both quantitative (numeric) and qualitative (descriptive) data. This type of study is used when the goal is to first explore personal experiences and then test what is learned with a larger group. This mixed-method analysis shows us what is happening, why, how, and under what conditions. We know now the reasonings behind the responses, identifying conditions not just outcomes.
Using mixed methods provides both depth and breadth. The qualitative phase helped us understand the meaning and experience, while the quantitative phase helped us understand the extent and relationships. Together, these approaches gave us a clearer and more complete picture of how role strain develops, how it interacts with volunteer experiences, and what organizational factors reduce or increase its impact on mental wellbeing.
This study was conducted through Western Michigan University and approved by the university’s Institutional Review Board (IRB), ensuring that the study met established ethicial standards for human subjects research.
Women described role strain and role overload as significant predictors of lower well-being. At the same time, volunteer social connectedness and satisfaction with volunteer work were associated with higher mental well-being, reinforcing that the quality of volunteer experiences matters.
These findings demonstrate that mental well-being is shaped by the cumulative pressure women experience across work, caregiving, and volunteer responsibilities. Emotional, physical, social, and behavioral consequences frequently emerged when demands intensified. The data show that strain and connection operate simultaneously, meaning volunteer environments can either compound stress or buffer it.
“I allow things to build up and get overwhelmed very easily. And then I tend to freeze.” — Participant 2, Focus Group 3
Many women described volunteer roles as both meaningful and demanding. Volunteering required significant time and energy, often layered on top of careers, caregiving, and household responsibilities. While meaning didn’t eliminate strain, it often made the demands feel like worthwhile strain — work that felt important enough to sustain.
Participants emphasized that contribution and impact shaped how demands were experienced. Even when schedules were stretched, women often chose to remain engaged because the work felt significant. This dual reality, added responsibility alongside added meaning, was central to how volunteerism was described.
“I don’t want to do things that aren’t significant or contributing in some way.” — Participant 7, Group 3
Volunteer roles were not inherently draining. However, they became harder to sustain when women lacked training, leadership support, or shared responsibility. Feeling unprepared or solely accountable increased strain, while strong onboarding, communication, and teamwork made volunteer commitments more manageable.
The findings suggest sustainability is less about reducing hours and more about improving infrastructure. Clear expectations, role clarity, and reliable collaboration reduced pressure and increased confidence. In contrast, unclear responsibilities or uneven participation heightened strain and risked disengagement.
Women were also more likely to stay engaged when volunteer work felt purposeful, reinforcing that support and meaning together shape sustainability.
“The largest part of role strain for me has been when I haven’t been supported… that’s where it has really become the most difficult.” — Participant 6, Focus Group 5
Alignment between volunteer work and a sense of contribution influenced how strain was felt. When purpose was present, demands felt more manageable. However, mental well-being was closely tied to the cumulative strain women experienced across their roles. Women described emotional and physical consequences when demands intensified. When purpose was unclear or absent, strain increased, even when time demands were similar.
Purpose did not remove pressure, but it shifted how pressure was interpreted. Women were more likely to tolerate demanding periods when they understood the impact of their work. When that connection weakened, strain intensified more quickly.
“It almost feels like a cycle… you get the high up of it and then the next one causes you stress.” — Participant 1, Group 1
Volunteer social connectedness — feeling connected to others in the volunteer community — shaped whether volunteering felt rewarding or straining. When women felt socially connected, organizational support was linked to lower volunteer strain. When connectedness was low, however, support alone did not offset pressure. This suggests volunteer sustainability is strongest when systems and relationships work together.
Connection functioned as a stabilizing factor within already busy lives. Relationships created accountability, shared ownership, and emotional reinforcement that strengthened engagement. Without those relational ties, even well-designed systems were less effective at reducing strain.
“If you don’t have the people around you that can kind of help you when you can’t do it… that’s where it has really become the most difficult.” — Participant 6, Focus Group 5
Volunteer spaces often served as important sources of belonging and community. Women described building friendships, expanding networks, and finding support through volunteer work — connections that were especially valuable amid otherwise isolating responsibilities. Higher social connectedness was linked to stronger satisfaction and engagement.
Volunteer communities provided relational support that extended beyond task completion. These connections offered affirmation, shared understanding, and collaboration. For women balancing multiple roles, this sense of belonging contributed meaningfully to overall well-being.
“We’re good about really trying to watch each other’s backs...when we’re getting to a place where we’re really stressed out.” — Participant 2, Focus Group 4
Bring Every Woman. All Things. to your workplace, affinity group, community organization, or friend network. Hosting a discussion about role strain, mental load, and support systems helps normalize the challenges women face and creates space for solutions. Organizations, companies, and community groups can use the research to spark meaningful conversations about how women balance work, caregiving, and community engagement.
One of the strongest findings in the research is the importance of social connectedness and purpose-driven volunteer work. Junior Leagues offer structured volunteer opportunities where women can build leadership skills, contribute to community impact and form meaningful relationships. Explore a local Junior League chapter to connect with women who are also working to create positive change.
The research shows that when volunteer work connects to a sense of contribution, strain becomes more manageable. Seeking opportunities that align with your values, your skills, and the impact you want to make can help create a more meaningful experience. When volunteer work is purpose-driven, it can shift from feeling like another obligation to something that is sustaining and fulfilling.
Volunteer work is most sustainable when responsibilities are shared and expectations are clear. Whether you’re volunteering through a Junior League, nonprofit board, or community group, it’s important to seek onboarding or training, clarify roles early, and build teams rather than carrying the work alone. Strong support systems are one of the strongest predictors of positive and sustainable volunteer experiences.
Communities thrive when women have spaces to connect, collaborate, and lead. Supporting organizations that invest in women's leadership and well-being helps strengthen the systems that allow volunteer work to remain meaningful rather than overwhelming. Programs like Every Woman. All Things. aim to expand those systems of support.
Women today are balancing more roles than ever before. Careers, caregiving, household and community commitment often intersect in ways that create both opportunity and strain. While volunteer work can add to already full schedules, this research show it can also provide something many women need : purpose, connection and meaningful contribution.
The difference lies in how volunteer experiences are structured. When women feel supported, connected to others and aligned with the purpose of their work, volunteerism can strengthen well-being rather than increase stress.
At a time when loneliness, burnout and mental load are increasingly recognized challenges for women, building stronger systems of connection and support matters more than ever.
Programs like Every Woman. All Things and organizations like The Junior League aim to create those spaces where women can support one another and contitubuyte to their communities in ways that are both imactful and sustainable.
This study was conducted through Western Michigan University and approved by the university’s Institutional Review Board (IRB), ensuring that the study met established ethical standards for human subjects research. This study specifically used a mixed methods approach called exploratory sequential design. This type of study is used when the goal is to first explore personal experiences and then test what is learned with a larger group. This mixed-method analysis shows us what is happening, why, how, and under what conditions. We know now the reasonings behind the responses, identifying conditions not just outcomes.
This research utilized a mixed-methods design, including six focus groups (n=37) and a national survey of 2,307 responses examining role strain, volunteer engagement, and mental well-being among women across life stages.
Past research has primarily focused on strain in work and family roles, but women today often manage many other roles, like volunteering and caregiving. Because we wanted to understand women’s experiences managing all of these roles, we started by talking with women directly. These conversations helped us understand how and when roles felt most overwhelming or most in conflict with each other, what kinds of support were most helpful, and how role strain impacted their mental wellbeing.
These conversations helped us develop the survey for the second, quantitative phase of the study. The survey allowed us to test important questions and see how common experiences were in a larger group of women.
Using mixed methods provides both depth and breadth. The qualitative phase helped us understand the meaning and experience, while the quantitative phase helped us understand the extent and relationships. Together, these approaches gave us a clearer and more complete picture of how role strain develops, how it interacts with volunteer experiences, and what organizational factors reduce or increase its impact on mental wellbeing.
