Boundary Work Tactics and Their Effects on Information and Communication Technology Use After Hours and Recovery

Abstract

With an increasing use of work-related technologies after hours and mobile working, boundaries between work and personal life domains blur more and more, impairing recovery. Qualitative studies have shown that individuals use various boundary work tactics to actively manage their work–nonwork boundaries. However, it remains largely unknown how the use of such tactics contributes to recovery. This research differentiates types of availability-related boundary work tactics and organizes them according to their underlying motives: preventive, restrictive, and rejecting tactics. The results of a cross-sectional study ( N = 249) and a validation study ( N = 175) support the proposed motive-oriented structure of tactics and show differential prediction of psychological detachment and relaxation. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Examining the training design and training transfer of a boundary management training: A randomized controlled intervention study

“…While participants were encouraged to actively create boundaries, it should be noted that they were not encouraged to fully segment work–non‐work boundaries. Rather, we provided knowledge about a variety of boundary work tactics, with some building very strong boundaries and others creating boundaries that are more permeable (Reinke et al., 2024), so participants could choose those tactics suitable to their needs. Module 4 aimed at the long‐term transfer of the participants' learnings into their daily lives.…”

“…While participants were encouraged to actively create boundaries, it should be noted that they were not encouraged to fully segment work-non-work boundaries. Rather, we provided knowledge about a variety of boundary work tactics, with some building very strong boundaries and others creating boundaries that are more permeable (Reinke et al, 2024), so 1 To register, participants had to send their consent to participate in the study to the first author. They received detailed information on the study's process and design, the training, data collection and data analysis as well as data privacy before the start of the study.…”

“…How to cite this article: Reinke, K., & Ohly, S. (2024). Examining the training design and training transfer of a boundary management training: A randomized controlled intervention study.…”

“…turning off work‐related smartphones after hours), as well as tactics that still create boundaries but allow for more permeability (e.g. checking work emails only at certain times after hours; see Reinke et al., 2024 for an overview). Thus, a boundary management training should enable individuals to increase boundary creation, that is to establish stronger boundaries, by applying boundary work tactics that are suitable for them.…”