Abstract
With the rapid development of information technology, the problems caused by work connectivity behaviour after hours (WCBAH) have attracted attention. WCBAH is caused by work matters penetrating the boundary of the nonworking domain. Therefore, reducing the permeability of the boundary through segmentation is the key to reducing WCBAH. However, in the past, the characteristics of WCBAH were rarely explored from the perspective of segmentation supply and segmentation preference integration. Based on boundary theory, this study explores the joint effects of organizational segmentation supply and individual segmentation preference on WCBAH, as well as the role of psychological detachment in this relationship. Eighty-eight employees were tracked for 5 consecutive working days, and the data were analysed using a multilevel model. The results show that daily segmentation supply has a significant negative impact on employee WCBAH. Individual segmentation preferences moderate the relationship between segmentation supply and WCBAH; that is, with the enhancement of individual segmentation preferences, the negative relationship between segmentation supply and WCBAH is enhanced. Psychological detachment mediates the joint effect of segmentation supply and segmentation preference on WCBAH. The results help in the understanding of boundary theory, and corresponding management suggestions on how to reduce employee WCBAH are provided.
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The datasets analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Wang, F., Zhang, Z. & Shi, W. Effects of segmentation supply and segmentation preference on work connectivity behaviour after hours: a person–environment fit perspective. Curr Psychol 42, 28146–28159 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03899-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03899-x