A Test of the Recovery Paradox and Its Alleviation: Bi-Directionality Between Workload, Anxiety, and Physical Activity

Based on the recovery paradox (RP) paradigm, the present study investigated a bi-directional (i.e., “typical” and “reverse”) relationship between employees’ job stressors appraised as threatening, strain reactions, and engagement in recovery activities. Namely, it was expected that there would be a positive relationship between one’s appraisal of workload as a threat stressor and one’s level of anxiety, and a negative relationship between one’s level of anxiety and one’s engagement in physical activity. Furthermore, the present study investigated the potential of job resources to alleviate the RP. Namely, it was expected that the “typical” relationship of the RP would be weaker for individuals who have higher levels of social (i.e., supervisor) support. These expectations were tested in a sample of 227 Dutch-speaking employees by using a weekly longitudinal study design consisting of an intake survey administered once and a subsequent questionnaire administered three times with a...Show moreBased on the recovery paradox (RP) paradigm, the present study investigated a bi-directional (i.e., “typical” and “reverse”) relationship between employees’ job stressors appraised as threatening, strain reactions, and engagement in recovery activities. Namely, it was expected that there would be a positive relationship between one’s appraisal of workload as a threat stressor and one’s level of anxiety, and a negative relationship between one’s level of anxiety and one’s engagement in physical activity. Furthermore, the present study investigated the potential of job resources to alleviate the RP. Namely, it was expected that the “typical” relationship of the RP would be weaker for individuals who have higher levels of social (i.e., supervisor) support. These expectations were tested in a sample of 227 Dutch-speaking employees by using a weekly longitudinal study design consisting of an intake survey administered once and a subsequent questionnaire administered three times with a one-week time interval. Longitudinal effects were examined by using (moderated) mediation statistical analyses performed with the SPSS-extension PROCESS. Contrary to the expectations, analyses showed that although the relationships between the study’s variables trended in the expected directions, no significant bi-directional relationship was found between one’s appraisal of workload as a threat stressor, level of anxiety, and engagement in physical activity. In addition, no significant influence of supervisor support on the “typical” relationship between the variables was shown. Nevertheless, according to the expectations, analyses showed a significant effect of one’s level of anxiety on one’s appraisal of workload as a threat stressor (p = .012). This finding suggests that employee strain reaction impacts employee perception of their job stressors. With the present study being among the first ones to examine the complete indirect relationships between the RP components and the alleviating effect of supervisor support on the “typical” relationship of the RP, I discuss the contributions of the study’s findings to the existing literature and how it can encourage further investigation of the RP and its alleviation to promote employee well-being.Show less

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A Test of the Recovery Paradox and Its Alleviation: Bi-Directionality Between Workload, Anxiety, and Physical Activity