Staying well and engaged when demands are high: the role of psychological detachment.
The authors of this study examined the relation between job demands and psychological detachment from work during off-job time (i.e., mentally switching off) with psychological well-being and work engagement. They hypothesized that high job demands and low levels of psychological detachment predict poor well-being and low work engagement. They proposed that psychological detachment buffers the negative impact of high job demands on well-being and work engagement. A longitudinal study (12-month time lag) with 309 human service employees showed that high job demands predicted emotional exhaustion, psychosomatic complaints, and low work engagement over time. Psychological detachment from work during off-job time predicted emotional exhaustion and buffered the relation between job demands and an increase in psychosomatic complaints and between job demands and a decrease in work engagement. The findings of this study suggest that psychological detachment from work during off-job time is an important factor that helps to protect employee well-being and work engagement.
Sonnentag
Sabine
S
Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz.
Binnewies
Carmen
C
Mojza
Eva J
EJ
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D013557:Switzerland; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology*; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*