Psychological detachment from work during non-work time: linear or curvilinear relations with mental health and work engagement?

• SHIMAZU Akihito

  Department of Mental Health, The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Medicine, Japan Asia Pacific Centre for Work Health and Safety, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia

• MATSUDAIRA Ko

  Department of Medical Research and Management for Musculoskeletal Pain, 22nd Century Medical and Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan Clinical Research Center for Occupational Musculoskeletal Disorders, Kanto Rosai Hospital, Japan

• JONGE Jan DE

  Asia Pacific Centre for Work Health and Safety, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia Human Performance Management Group, Department of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

• TOSAKA Naoya

  Department of Mental Health, The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Medicine, Japan

• WATANABE Kazuhiro

  Department of Mental Health, The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Medicine, Japan Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Japan

• TAKAHASHI Masaya

  National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan

Abstract

This study examined whether a higher level of psychological detachment during non-work time is associated with better employee mental health (Hypothesis 1), and examined whether psychological detachment has a curvilinear relation (inverted U-shaped pattern) with work engagement (Hypothesis 2). A large cross-sectional Internet survey was conducted among registered monitors of an Internet survey company in Japan. The questionnaire included scales for psychological detachment, employee mental health, and work engagement as well as for job characteristics and demographic variables as potential confounders. The hypothesized model was tested with moderated structural equation modeling techniques among 2,234 respondents working in the tertiary industries with regular employment. Results showed that psychological detachment had curvilinear relations with mental health as well as with work engagement. Mental health improved when psychological detachment increased from a low to higher levels but did not benefit any further from extremely high levels of psychological detachment. Work engagement showed the highest level at an intermediate level of detachment (inverted U-shaped pattern). Although high psychological detachment may enhance employee mental health, moderate levels of psychological detachment are most beneficial for his or her work engagement.

Journal

• Industrial Health

  Industrial Health 54 (3), 282-292, 2016

  National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

Keywords

• Psychological detachment
• Mental health
• Structural equation modeling
• Work engagement
• Curvilinearity

Details

• CRID: 1390282679257457024
• NII Article ID: 130005156519
• NII Book ID: AA00672955
• DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.2015-0097
• ISSN: 18808026
• ISSN: 00198366
• NDL BIB ID: 027344191
• PubMed: 26829972
• Web Site: https://ndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/books/R000000004-I027344191
• Web Site: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/indhealth/54/3/54_2015-0097/_pdf
• Text Lang: en
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • NDL
  • Crossref
  • PubMed
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed