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Bridging Occupational, Organizational and Public Health pp 193–208Cite as

Recovery from Work During Off-Job Time

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Abstract

Recovery from work is crucial to protect employee health and well-being. This chapter aims at illuminating the processes underlying recovery from work, focusing on recovery during off-job time. First, I present theoretical arguments and empirical evidence that recovery from work is a process of unwinding that is the opposite of psychophysiological activation during effort expenditure under demanding and stressful conditions. Next, I discuss cognitive, affective, and behavioral processes that influence recovery from work either negatively or positively. With regard to recovery-hampering processes, stressor-related thoughts, negative affective states, and prolonged exposure to work or similar demands are discussed. With regard to recovery-promoting processes, psychological detachment from work, positive affective states, and active leisure and behavioral control are considered. Based on this overview of recovery research, a number of directions for future research are suggested.

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  1. Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, 9104, 6500 HE, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Sabine A. E. Geurts

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Geurts, S.A.E. (2014). Recovery from Work During Off-Job Time. In: Bridging Occupational, Organizational and Public Health. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5640-3_12

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