Recovery, work engagement, and proactive behavior: a new look at the interface between nonwork and work
1Institute of Psychology, Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany. s.sonnentag@tu-bs.de
The Journal of Applied Psychology
|June 20, 2003
Summary
Recovering during leisure time boosts daily work engagement and proactive behaviors like learning. This highlights the importance of non-work recovery for subsequent workday performance.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health Psychology
- Organizational Behavior
- Work-Life Balance Research
Background:
- Employee well-being and performance are influenced by factors beyond the immediate work environment.
- Understanding the link between non-work recovery and daily work outcomes is crucial for employee engagement and productivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between leisure time recovery experiences and subsequent work-related outcomes.
- To examine how daily recovery impacts work engagement and proactive behaviors.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 147 employees participated in the study.
- Data were collected via daily surveys over five consecutive workdays.
- Multilevel analyses were employed to examine day-level relationships.
Main Results:
- Day-level recovery during leisure time was positively associated with subsequent day-level work engagement.
- Recovery also positively predicted proactive behaviors, including personal initiative and pursuit of learning.
- Significant daily fluctuations in employee attitudes and behaviors were observed, linked to recovery opportunities.
Conclusions:
- Adequate recovery during leisure time is essential for enhancing daily work engagement.
- Facilitating recovery opportunities in non-work domains can foster proactive behaviors at work.
- The findings underscore the dynamic interplay between non-work recovery and on-the-job performance.
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