Recovery from job stress: The stressor-detachment model as an integrative framework

Abstract

SummaryThis paper reviews empirical evidence on psychological detachment from work during nonwork time. Psychological detachment as a core recovery experience refers to refraining from job-related activities and thoughts during nonwork time; it implies to mentally disengage from one's job while being away from work. Using the stressor-detachment model as an organizing framework, we describe findings from between-person and withinperson studies, relying on cross-sectional, longitudinal, and daily-diary designs. Overall, research shows that job stressors, particularly workload, predict low levels of psychological detachment. A lack of detachment in turn predicts high strain levels and poor individual well-being (e.g., burnout and lower life satisfaction). Psychological detachment seems to be both a mediator and a moderator in the relationship between job stressors on the one hand and strain and poor well-being on the other hand. We propose possible extensions of the stressor-detachment model by suggesting moderator variables grounded in the transactional stress model. We further discuss avenues for future research and offer practical implications.

Long-term profiles of work-related rumination associated with leadership, job demands, and exhaustion: A three-wave study

“…This association as such is consistent with previous findings from variable-oriented studies (Flaxman et al, 2012;Querstret & Cropley, 2012) and compatible with the notion of energy deficiency resulting from a disrupted recovery process (Sonnentag & Fritz, 2015;Zijlstra et al, 2014). However, without the person-centred approach, we would not know that precisely the same participants who report increasing and decreasing work-related rumination, also display concurrent, corresponding changes in exhaustion.…”

“…Our findings concerning job demands are consistent with the stressor-detachment model, stating that job demands make it more difficult to disengage from work (Sonnentag & Fritz, 2015), as well as previous variable-oriented findings specifically on the positive relationship between job demands and work-related rumination (Berset et al, 2011;Cropley & Purvis, 2003;Querstret & Cropley, 2012;Syrek & Antoni, 2014). While previous studies have mainly examined quantitative job demands, in this study we found that cognitive and particularly emotional demands showed salient differences between the WRR classes.…”

“…A significant number of recovery studies have demonstrated a lack of psychological detachment to relate to increased strain reactions, consistent with the stressor-detachment model (for a review, see Sonnentag and Fritz, 2015). In this study, we examined exhaustion as an indicator of strain to which work-related rumination may lead in the long term.…”

“…Thus, we aimed to show how job demands, leadership, and exhaustion are experienced by individuals with different long-term profiles of work-related rumination. For this purpose, we utilized models of mental presence of stressors (Brosschot et al, 2006;Sonnentag & Fritz, 2015;Geurts & Sonnentag, 2006) and their impeding effect on recovery as understood in the E-R model (Meijman & Mulder, 1998). In addition, the COR theory principles (Hobfoll, 1989) were utilized to conceive effort expenditure at work as energy investment and recovery as restoration of energy resources (Zijlstra et al, 2014).…”

Enhancing daily well-being at work through lunchtime park walks and relaxation exercises: Recovery experiences as mediators.

“…Particularly psychological detachment from work (i.e., not thinking about work during off-job time) has been shown to advance resource recovery (Sonnentag & Fritz, 2015). Mental detachment is important, as according to the E-R model (Meijman & Mulder, 1998) absence of work demands is a necessary condition for recovery.…”