Individualised work and wellbeing: Homeworking, self-employment and creative labour

This thesis examines home-based, self-employed creative labour as an example of individualised work, and investigates its effect on subjective wellbeing. Despite the benefits of autonomy and the potential for meaningful and enjoyable work, questions and concerns remain about the burdens of precariousness, the attainability of self-fulfilling labour, the possibility of isolation, and the repercussions of work-life integration for leisure and home. To contribute to our understanding of these issues that are characteristic of individualised work, the thesis analyses how the intrinsic benefits, precarious freedoms, socialities, and work-life boundary dynamics of this work influence subjective wellbeing. 21 participants took part in the research. Questionnaires measuring emotion, satisfaction, and social-psychological functioning provided an assessment of their wellbeing, while participant-led video diaries and semi-structured interviews enabled an in-depth investigation of their experiences.

The questionnaires revealed positive subjective wellbeing across the sample, and an analysis of the interviews and video diaries helps to explain the influence of work to this end. While the vulnerability and uncertainty of work was a source of stress, the benefits of autonomy and to a greater extent the personal enrichment of creative labour evidently contributed to the high levels of wellbeing reported. The socialities of the work-home and independent creative labour as well as individualised networks of social spaces and connections mitigated experiences of isolation. Work-life integration and the precariousness and responsibility of work did have some negative consequences and could undermine the positive relationship between flexibility and leisure time satisfaction. Considering the emotional geographies of homeworking, the home remained a space of rejuvenation and the dynamics of the work-home were mutually enhancing of both domains, although feelings of entrapment and the importance and challenges of getting out of the house also emerged. To conclude, the thesis outlines the contributions made and avenues for future research and methodological design.