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IJCMA 24,2
Workplace conflict and employee well-being
The moderating role of detachment from work during off-job time
Sabine Sonnentag and Dana Unger
Department of Psychology, University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany, and
166
¨ Inga J. Nagel
Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this study is to address the relation between task and relationship conflicts at work and employee well-being. It seeks to examine psychological detachment from work during off-job time as a moderator in the relation between conflicts and well-being. Design/methodology/approach – In a field study, 291 white-collar employees completed survey measures of task conflicts, relationship conflicts, psychological detachment from work during off-job time, and well-being. Control variables included workload and job control. Findings – Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that employees experiencing high levels of task conflicts and high levels of relationship conflicts report poorer well-being. As predicted, psychological detachment from work mitigated the negative relation between relationship conflicts and well-being. Contrary to expectations, psychological detachment failed to moderate the relation between task conflicts and well-being. Practical implications – The study suggests that employees should be encouraged to disengage mentally from work during leisure time. Originality/value – This study links research on workplace conflicts with research on recovery processes. It tests the moderator effect of psychological detachment from work on the association between workplace conflicts and well-being. Keywords Task conflicts, Relationship conflicts, Well-being, Psychological detachment, Conflict management, Employees, Germany Paper type Research paper
International Journal of Conflict Management Vol. 24 No. 2, 2013
IJCMA 24,2
Workplace conflict and employee well-being
The moderating role of detachment from work during off-job time
Sabine Sonnentag and Dana Unger
Department of Psychology, University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany, and
166
¨ Inga J. Nagel
Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this study is to address the relation between task and relationship conflicts at work and employee well-being. It seeks to examine psychological detachment from work during off-job time as a moderator in the relation between conflicts and well-being. Design/methodology/approach – In a field study, 291 white-collar employees completed survey measures of task conflicts, relationship conflicts, psychological detachment from work during off-job time, and well-being. Control variables included workload and job control. Findings – Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that employees experiencing high levels of task conflicts and high levels of relationship conflicts report poorer well-being. As predicted, psychological detachment from work mitigated the negative relation between relationship conflicts and well-being. Contrary to expectations, psychological detachment failed to moderate the relation between task conflicts and well-being. Practical implications – The study suggests that employees should be encouraged to disengage mentally from work during leisure time. Originality/value – This study links research on workplace conflicts with research on recovery processes. It tests the moderator effect of psychological detachment from work on the association between workplace conflicts and well-being. Keywords Task conflicts, Relationship conflicts, Well-being, Psychological detachment, Conflict management, Employees, Germany Paper type Research paper
International Journal of Conflict Management Vol. 24 No. 2, 2013