Take A Social Break! The Role Of Break Behavior For Recovery And Well-Being
Sprache des Vortragstitels:
Englisch
Original Tagungtitel:
18th Congress of the European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology (EAWOP)
Sprache des Tagungstitel:
Englisch
Original Kurzfassung:
Content: Purpose: Recovery literature agrees on the importance of recovery experiences for the well-being of employees. An opportunity to recover and maintain resources is provided by breaks during work. The aim of this study is to shed light on the benefits of social interaction during breaks for recovery and well-being at the end of the work day.
Design/Methodology: An online survey was conducted which yielded 241 responses, of which 214 made it into the final regression analyses. The survey included scales to measure recovery experience, break characteristics, and the subjective well-being at the end of the work day.
Results: Results show that social interaction during breaks from work is the most important contributor to a positive break experience, which in turn is the most important contributor to recovery and a positive well-being in the evening. Remaining at the workstation and not engaging in talk about non-work topics hinder detachment and recovery, and negatively affect a positive break experience.
Limitations: Results are limited by self-reported data.
Research/Practical Implications: The study findings suggest that employee well-being can be positively improved via 1) promoting social interactions at breaks from work, and 2) offering activities for employees away from their immediate working environment.
Originality/Value: To our knowledge, recovery literature primarily investigated after work and holiday recreation and its impact on recovery and well-being, or on work breaks for well-being during work and directly after the break, but little focused on breaks potential to contribute positively to well-being at the end of the day.