A1 Journal article (refereed)
Staying connected and feeling less exhausted : The autonomy benefits of after‐hour connectivity (2023)

van Zoonen, W., Treem, J. W., & Sivunen, A. E. (2023). Staying connected and feeling less exhausted : The autonomy benefits of after‐hour connectivity. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 96(2), 242-263. https://doi.org/10.1111/joop.12422

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: van Zoonen, Ward; Treem, Jeffrey W.; Sivunen, Anu E.

Journal or series: Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology

ISSN: 0963-1798

eISSN: 2044-8325

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 03/01/2023

Volume: 96

Issue number: 2

Pages range: 242-263

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/joop.12422

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/84778

Abstract

This study investigates the longitudinal relationship between after-hour connectivity, autonomy and exhaustion. In doing so, we seek to illuminate the role of individuals' connectivity to work in relation to their autonomy and well-being. We juxtapose different effective directions of the relationship between connectivity and autonomy to shed light on whether and how connectivity and autonomy are related to employees' well-being. This is important because research has both often problematized after-hour connectivity and suggested that connectivity is an inherent feature of contemporary workplaces that may benefit employees. In this study, we hypothesize that after-hour connectivity increases autonomy and that the autonomy to work anywhere and anytime leads to working everywhere all the time, thus increasing after-hour connectivity. We further shed light on whether this behaviour has negative consequences for employees' well-being or not. The three-wave survey study (N = 192) demonstrates that after-hour connectivity may operate as a resource that potentially empowers employees (increases autonomy). The freedom to work anytime, anywhere, does not itself increase after-hour connectivity. Notably, we demonstrate that connectivity is negatively related to emotional exhaustion, through increased autonomy.

Keywords: exhaustion; resources; autonomy (societal properties); autonomy (cognition); well-being at work; well-being; working hours; working life

Free keywords: after-hour connectivity; autonomy; exhaustion; resources and demands

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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2023

Preliminary JUFO rating: 2