Faculty of Social Sciences.
Work and Organizational Psychology, University of Trier.
J Occup Health Psychol. 2018 Jul;23(3):428-442. doi: 10.1037/ocp0000083. Epub 2017 Mar 30.
Only few studies so far have examined recovery from work during workday breaks. In this intervention study, based on the effort-recovery model and the conservation of resources theory, we examined how to enhance recovery during lunch breaks. More specifically, we examined the within-person effects of lunchtime park walks and relaxation exercises on employees' levels of concentration, strain, and fatigue experienced at the end of a working day. We moreover tested whether detachment from work and enjoyment experienced during lunch breaks transmitted the effects of these activities to well-being outcomes. Participants in the park walk (n = 51) and relaxation (n = 46) groups were asked to complete a 15-min exercise during their lunch break on 10 consecutive working days. Afternoon well-being, lunchtime detachment, and lunchtime enjoyment were assessed twice a week before, during, and after the intervention, altogether for 5 weeks. Multilevel analysis results showed that park walks at lunchtime were related to better concentration and less fatigue in the afternoon through enjoyment. Relaxation exercises were related to better concentration in the afternoon via detachment. In addition, relaxation exercises were directly linked to lower levels of strain and fatigue in the afternoon. Our study suggests that on days on which employees engage in recovering activities during lunch breaks, they experience higher levels of well-being at the end of a working day. These results add to the theory-based knowledge on recovery during workday breaks and highlight the importance of breaks for organizational practices. (PsycINFO Database Record
迄今为止，只有少数研究考察了工作日休息期间的工作恢复情况。在这项基于努力-恢复模型和资源保存理论的干预研究中，我们研究了如何在午餐休息时间增强恢复效果。更具体地说，我们研究了午餐时间在公园散步和放松练习对员工在工作日结束时的专注水平、紧张和疲劳的个体内影响。我们还测试了午餐休息期间的工作脱离和享受是否将这些活动的效果传递到幸福感结果中。公园散步组（n = 51）和放松组（n = 46）的参与者被要求在连续 10 个工作日的午餐休息时间内完成 15 分钟的锻炼。在干预前后的两周内，每周两次评估下午的幸福感、午餐时间的脱离和午餐时间的享受。多水平分析结果表明，午餐时间在公园散步与下午的享受相关，可提高专注力，减少疲劳。放松练习通过脱离与下午的专注力相关。此外，放松练习与下午的紧张和疲劳程度直接相关较低。我们的研究表明，在员工在午餐休息时间进行恢复活动的日子里，他们在工作日结束时会体验到更高的幸福感。这些结果为基于理论的工作日休息期间恢复知识增添了内容，并强调了休息对组织实践的重要性。
