Home-to-work transitions and psychophysiological unwinding from work: A qualitative episodic approach

Many employees engage in work during their private time either by thinking and talking about it or performing work-related tasks. Such home-to-work transitions (HWT) are generally considered to disturb psychophysiological unwinding after work (i.e., recovery). In this study, we replicate and theoretically extend past research to foster our understanding of both psychological and physiological recovery manifestations. Particularly, we focused on three aspects of HWT-their frequency, type, and appraisal (i.e., positive or negative for work and family domains). We used an experience sampling design with 89 participants across 7 days (i.e., weekday and weekend) during which we measured daily episodes of HWT via a qualitative approach, subjective daily measures of end-of-day fatigue and next-day restfulness, as well as nocturnal heart rate variability as a physiological recovery indicator. As expected, the number of daily HWT was positively associated with end-of-day fatigue. Additionally, we found that the daily relationships between HWT and heart rate variability were also positive, which is contrary to expectations, but consistent with past research. Both the type and appraisal of HWT were also associated with recovery indicators. Work-related activities at home and the positive appraisal of HWT for work were positively associated with heart rate variability. In general, we were able to replicate past work on the associations between HWT and psychological recovery indicators and provide new insights into physiological aspects. The contradictory, yet consistent, association with previous work on physiological recovery is noteworthy and can help revise recovery theories, especially by challenging the universally assumed recovery-preventive role of HWT. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).