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Does vacation enable recuperation? Changes in well-being associated with time away from work
G Strauss-Blasche1, C Ekmekcioglu, W Marktl
1Department of Physiology, University of Vienna, Austria. gerhard.strauss-blasche@univie.ac.at
Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England)
|July 27, 2000
Summary
Vacations can improve employee well-being, reducing physical complaints and enhancing mood shortly after returning. Recuperation during vacation is key, influenced by personal time and satisfaction, leading to sustained benefits.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health Psychology
- Leisure Studies
Background:
- Employee well-being is crucial for organizational success.
- Understanding the impact of vacations on well-being is essential for promoting a healthy workforce.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in employee well-being associated with vacations.
- To identify vacation-related variables influencing these well-being changes.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 53 employees from an Austrian manufacturing company.
- Well-being measures taken before vacation, 3 days post-vacation, and 5 weeks post-vacation.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements in physical complaints, sleep quality, and mood were observed 3 days post-vacation.
- Life satisfaction did not change significantly during vacation.
- Reduced physical complaints persisted for 5 weeks post-vacation.
- Vacation recuperation explained 56% of well-being variance.
Conclusions:
- Vacations offer short-term improvements in employee well-being.
- Factors like personal time, vacation satisfaction, and pre-vacation stress levels moderate recuperation and subsequent well-being benefits.