Effects of the COVID-19 crisis on work-life balance, mental health, and perceived health status among Hungarian defense employees: a cross-sectional study

    Evelin Trembeczki Info
    Manuela Tvaronavičienė Info
    János Besenyő Info
    István Kobolka Info
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/jbem.2025.24189

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted profoundly on the mental and physical health of defense personnel, due to their involvement in the enforcement of COVID-19 measures and confined work environments. This cross-sectional study assessed the effects of the pandemic on work-life balance, mental health, and perceived health status among Hungarian defense employees. Data was collected from 300 employees of a Hungarian defense company using an online questionnaire that included demographics, work-related observations, mental health scales (DASS), and perceived health status (SF-12). Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicated that work type, flexibility, and workload remained stable before, during, and after the pandemic. Compensation satisfaction (p = 0.025) showed a slight increase post-COVID-19, while organizational support did not significantly change (p > 0.05). Work-life balance significantly decreased during the pandemic (p = 0.012), and the mental health indicators stress (p = 0.005), anxiety (p < 0.001), and depression (p < 0.001) increased significantly. Reliability analysis (Cronbach’s alpha) demonstrated good internal consistency across the scales. These findings underscore the significant negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of defense employees, reinforcing the need for sustained support mechanisms to promote both physical and mental well-being in this workforce.

Keywords:

work-life balance, mental health, COVID-19 pandemic, defense employees, stress and anxiety, Hungarian military

How to Cite

Trembeczki, E., Tvaronavičienė, M., Besenyő, J., & Kobolka, I. (2025). Effects of the COVID-19 crisis on work-life balance, mental health, and perceived health status among Hungarian defense employees: a cross-sectional study. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 26(3), 599–620. https://doi.org/10.3846/jbem.2025.24189

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2025-07-01

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Trembeczki, E., Tvaronavičienė, M., Besenyő, J., & Kobolka, I. (2025). Effects of the COVID-19 crisis on work-life balance, mental health, and perceived health status among Hungarian defense employees: a cross-sectional study. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 26(3), 599–620. https://doi.org/10.3846/jbem.2025.24189

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