How extended work availability affects well-being: The mediating roles of psychological detachment and work-family-conflict

Studies have identified availability for work during non-work time as a widespread demand that is related to impaired well-being. Whereas existing research results are based on cross-sectional designs, the present study applied a three-wave longitudinal design to improve interpretations of the direction and causation of the effects of extended work availability. In addition, this study investigated mediating processes such as the reduction of psychological detachment and the increase in work-to-family conflict (WFC). A total of 416 people responded to an online survey at three measurement points, with a time lag of 2 months between each survey, to assess the organisational expectations of being available during one’s off-job time as well as psychological detachment, WFC and emotional exhaustion. The results of structural equation modelling indicated that extended work availability is associated with increases in emotional exhaustion over time. A mediation analysis revealed that WFC and psychological detachment mediated this effect. The results of this study provide strong evidence that extended work availability negatively affects employee well-being over time. Furthermore, this study contributes to an explanation of the mediating process of the detrimental effect. This finding can be used for health-related interventions in cases where extended work availability cannot be completely avoided.