Examining Factors Influencing Work–Study Balance and Academic Performance among University Students in Cambodia

Abstract

Background: Balancing employment and academic responsibilities has become a growing challenge for university students in Cambodia, yet empirical evidence on the determinants of work–study balance remains limited. Objective: This study develops an integrated model unifying time management, self-regulation, goal orientation, and peer support to examine their effects on work–study balance and its influence on academic performance. Method: A quantitative correlational design was employed with 300 working university students from BELTEI International University. Data were analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS. Results: The structural model demonstrated moderate explanatory power, explaining 49.0% of the variance in work–study balance and 61.5% of the variance in academic performance. Goal orientation was the strongest predictor of work–study balance, followed by time management and peer support, while self-regulation showed no significant effect. Academic performance was significantly predicted by self-regulation, goal orientation, peer support, and work–study balance, whereas time management did not show a significant effect. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the importance of personal and social factors in promoting students' academic success and provide practical implications for policymakers and universities, while future research should validate the proposed model across diverse educational and cultural contexts. Contribution: These findings contribute empirical evidence from the Cambodian higher education context by addressing the determinants of work–study balance and academic performance within an integrated framework.