Navigating the Bright and Dark Sides of Work Motivation and Nonwork Recovery: A Mixed-Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Organizational Psychology
• Workplace Well-being
• Human Resource Management

Background:

• Employee experiences of recovery and autonomous motivation are crucial for optimal functioning.
• Resource scarcity and abundance theories provide a framework for understanding their interplay.
• The complex relationship between nonwork recovery and autonomous work motivation requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the complementary and conflicting processes between nonwork recovery and autonomous work motivation.
• To contextualize how these two key employee experiences coexist and interact.
• To develop theoretical propositions on the interplay for optimal employee functioning.

Main Methods:

• A sequential quantitative-qualitative mixed-methods design was employed.
• 377 Norwegian employees completed well-validated questionnaires on recovery and motivation.
• 15 employees participated in follow-up interviews using extreme case sampling.

Main Results:

• Distinct complementary and conflicting patterns were identified between recovery and autonomous motivation.
• The interplay between recovery and motivation exhibits both positive (bright) and negative (dark) sides.
• Findings highlight the complex nature of these employee experiences.

Conclusions:

• Recovery and autonomous motivation have a multifaceted relationship with significant implications.
• Theoretical propositions were developed to advance understanding of optimal employee functioning.
• The study contributes to theory on key facets of employee well-being and performance.