When Job Demands Undermine Recovery Experiences: Unpacking the Recovery Paradox

Carol M. Wong

Advisor: Lauren E. Kuykendall, PhD, Department of Psychology

Committee Members: Seth Kaplan, Lois Tetrick

Online Location, Online
April 22, 2022, 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Abstract:

Despite the greater need for recovery when faced with a high level of job demands, empirical evidence suggests that employees are less likely to recover under such circumstances—a phenomenon known as the “recovery paradox.” The present study aims to (1) clarify how different job demands impair recovery experiences and 2) identify boundary conditions in the recovery paradox. Employing an experienced sampling methodology (ESM), data was collected from 163 participants after work and before bedtime over the course of 5 consecutive workdays, resulting in 698 complete day-level responses. Multilevel path analysis was conducted to test the hypotheses. There was empirical support for the indirect effect of emotional demands on psychological detachment via negative affect. However, the same effect did not extend to relaxation and control experiences. There were no significant indirect effects of overload on recovery experiences via negative affect and work-related technology usage. Lastly, moderating effects of work-home boundary segmentation preference, job resources, and personal resources were not found. Implications, limitations, and future research are discussed.