Well Recovered and More Creative? A Longitudinal Study on the Relationship Between Vacation and Creativity

The aim of this study was to investigate employees’ self-reported creativity before and after vacation and to examine the impact of recovery experiences (detachment, relaxation, mastery, meaning, autonomy, affiliation) on changes in creativity. The DRAMMA model of Newman et al. provides the theoretical background of our approach. Longitudinal data was assessed with four repeated measurements. The study encompassed data from 274 white-collar workers. Analyses showed that employees subjectively perceive their creativity to benefit not immediately after their vacation but 2 weeks later. Detachment was significantly related to lower creativity within persons, while mastery experiences explained differences in creativity between persons. This study provides a detailed picture of changes in creativity around vacations.

Exploring occupation in recovery from bulimia nervosa: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Introduction Recovering from bulimia nervosa challenges a person to learn, revise, and do occupations that contribute to rather than detract from health. This study utilized Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to (a) explore the recovery experiences of six adult women with histories of bulimia nervosa and (b) interpret how their accounts reflected the assumptions and characteristics of occupation. Methods Data were collected via audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews. Data analysis within and between cases identified six superordinate themes, which included interpretation in terms of criteria of occupation. Findings Superordinate themes reflect (1) occupation emerged in recovering from bulimia nervosa through committed action, not doing what fueled bulimia nervosa, adopting new ways of living, prioritizing self-care, connecting with others, and creating supportive environments and (2) recovery from bulimia nervosa can be construed as an occupation. Conclusion This study provides insight into nuances of recovery from bulimia nervosa. Results offer novel implications distinct to an occupational therapy lens, for example, consideration of self-care beyond eating and meal preparation; modification of the home, work, and social environment; and setting goals associated with not doing versus doing. Further, the interpretative finding of recovery as occupation holds implications for the evolving philosophical considerations within occupational science and therapy.

Towards restorative spaces for postnatal recovery in urban tertiary hospitals

<p>Modern living and globalisation are increasingly contributing to access to and utilisation of modern healthcare services in both developed and developing countries; from diagnosis, treatments, and even to birth in a specialised healthcare environment. In many resource-rich countries, birth is one of the main reasons for women’s hospitalisation. Research suggests that physical environments of healthcare impact on patient/users’ health outcomes. Yet decisions about healthcare facilities’ design and programming are often made without input from users. A key challenge for patient-centred care in the maternity field is the assumption that healthcare spaces and facilities created for the general “unwell” hospital population can support the emotional, physiological and psychological needs of healthy women who give birth in hospitals. Previous research into the childbirth environment has focused on physical environments and satisfaction with the labour and birth process. But studies examining the impacts of physical environments on women’s postnatal recovery experience and wellbeing have been limited. The aim of this thesis is to determine the design factors that influence women’s recovery experiences and wellbeing with a view to proposing design guidelines for optimal postnatal environment in large, tertiary hospitals. A two phase sequential explanatory mixed methods approach was taken to the research which combined a quantitative method (online survey questionnaires) with a qualitative approach (focus group discussions – FGDs). Research was conducted with two user groups, comprising postnatal women and midwives, to examine perceptions of physical environment factors that influence women’s recovery experiences and wellbeing in New Zealand hospitals. The results of the questionnaire surveys were followed up in phase two FGDs to provide explanations and descriptions of architectural factors and design features that impacted on women’s recovery experiences and psychological wellbeing. The results were compared, synthesised and interpreted to inform the outcomes of this thesis. The research found several physical environment factors and design features which were significant and a number which were non-significant among the two user groups in all four categories investigated: perception of postnatal room features; interior environment; sensory comfort environment and social comfort environment. The research found factors related to maintenance (e.g. cleanliness), environmental design (e.g. noise/quiet in rooms, and daylighting), and interior spatial characteristics (e.g. view to nature, combined home-like and clinical features and privacy) are more important in fostering wellbeing. Strong evidence was found on how building spaces impact on postnatal recovery experience, especially regarding single-bed rooms for emotional support and psychosocial support environments such as communal spaces and outdoor environments. The original contribution of this thesis is an identification of the environments which have the potential for enhanced recovery experience of women during the postnatal period. This understanding of the architectural design factors and building spaces could help architects, healthcare designers and hospital care providers in applying and promoting restorativeness in large, tertiary hospitals to better help in providing quality postnatal care for women whose hospital stays are crucial to their wellbeing and health prior to going home with their new baby.</p>

Towards restorative spaces for postnatal recovery in urban tertiary hospitals

<p>Modern living and globalisation are increasingly contributing to access to and utilisation of modern healthcare services in both developed and developing countries; from diagnosis, treatments, and even to birth in a specialised healthcare environment. In many resource-rich countries, birth is one of the main reasons for women’s hospitalisation. Research suggests that physical environments of healthcare impact on patient/users’ health outcomes. Yet decisions about healthcare facilities’ design and programming are often made without input from users. A key challenge for patient-centred care in the maternity field is the assumption that healthcare spaces and facilities created for the general “unwell” hospital population can support the emotional, physiological and psychological needs of healthy women who give birth in hospitals. Previous research into the childbirth environment has focused on physical environments and satisfaction with the labour and birth process. But studies examining the impacts of physical environments on women’s postnatal recovery experience and wellbeing have been limited. The aim of this thesis is to determine the design factors that influence women’s recovery experiences and wellbeing with a view to proposing design guidelines for optimal postnatal environment in large, tertiary hospitals. A two phase sequential explanatory mixed methods approach was taken to the research which combined a quantitative method (online survey questionnaires) with a qualitative approach (focus group discussions – FGDs). Research was conducted with two user groups, comprising postnatal women and midwives, to examine perceptions of physical environment factors that influence women’s recovery experiences and wellbeing in New Zealand hospitals. The results of the questionnaire surveys were followed up in phase two FGDs to provide explanations and descriptions of architectural factors and design features that impacted on women’s recovery experiences and psychological wellbeing. The results were compared, synthesised and interpreted to inform the outcomes of this thesis. The research found several physical environment factors and design features which were significant and a number which were non-significant among the two user groups in all four categories investigated: perception of postnatal room features; interior environment; sensory comfort environment and social comfort environment. The research found factors related to maintenance (e.g. cleanliness), environmental design (e.g. noise/quiet in rooms, and daylighting), and interior spatial characteristics (e.g. view to nature, combined home-like and clinical features and privacy) are more important in fostering wellbeing. Strong evidence was found on how building spaces impact on postnatal recovery experience, especially regarding single-bed rooms for emotional support and psychosocial support environments such as communal spaces and outdoor environments. The original contribution of this thesis is an identification of the environments which have the potential for enhanced recovery experience of women during the postnatal period. This understanding of the architectural design factors and building spaces could help architects, healthcare designers and hospital care providers in applying and promoting restorativeness in large, tertiary hospitals to better help in providing quality postnatal care for women whose hospital stays are crucial to their wellbeing and health prior to going home with their new baby.</p>

How Do Teleworkers and Organizations Manage the COVID-19 Crisis in Brazil? The Role of Flexibility I-Deals and Work Recovery in Maintaining Sustainable Well-Being at Work

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the economic market and labor contexts worldwide. Brazil has suffered one of the worst social and governmental managements of the COVID-19 crisis, forcing workers and organizations to develop coping strategies. This environment can affect both well-being and performance at work. Sustainable well-being at work refers to different patterns of relationships between performance and well-being. It may include eudaimonic (e.g., Meaning of Work—MOW) or hedonic (e.g., emotions) forms of well-being. This study tests the moderating role of recovery from work stress in the relationship between flexibility i-deals and patterns of sustainable well-being at work in Brazilian teleworkers. We relied on two studies to achieve this objective. In Study 1, conducted during the pandemic’s first outbreak in Brazil (N = 386), recovery experiences moderated the relationship between i-deals and clusters formed by performance and MOW (eudaimonic happiness). In Study 2, conducted during the second outbreak (N = 281), we identified relationships between clusters of emotions (hedonic happiness) and MOW (eudaimonic) with performance. The results supported the idea that recovery experiences moderated the relationship between i-deals and patterns of sustainable well-being at work differently. Our findings have implications for Human Resource Management and teleworkers, especially for employee behaviors to deal with stress.

Customized interventions improved employees’ experience of recovery during the workday

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of research regarding factors promoting recovery during the workday and effective interventions. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate how different intervention activities may impact employees’ experiences of recovery at the workplace. METHODS: Customized intervention activities based on qualitative results and a participatory approach were integrated among the employees at six primary health care centres (PHCCs; n = 166) during one year. Recovery and workplace factors were measured with a questionnaire at the start and end of intervention, and also in a control group (15 PHCCs; n = 328). Group differences were tested (Chi-2) and explanatory factors compared by logistic regression models. RESULTS: The proportion of employees reporting workday recovery increased in the intervention group (19.9%to 29.1%; p = 0.01), whereas the control group showed no significant change. Recovery was explained by self-reflection and reflection with co-workers. After intervention, having influence on work situation, energy-building experience, and opportunity for laughter also contributed significantly to recovery. CONCLUSIONS: The results contribute to work recovery research by confirming that a customized intervention may have an impact on employees’ recovery experiences. The study showed that considering the factors of reflection, influence, and companionship can positively impact workplace recovery.

Boundaryless working hours and recovery in Germany

Objective Due to recent trends such as globalization and digitalization, more and more employees tend to have flexible working time arrangements, including boundaryless working hours. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships of various aspects of boundaryless working hours (overtime, Sunday work, and extended work availability) with employees’ state of recovery. Besides, we examined the mediating and moderating role of recovery experiences (psychological detachment, relaxation, mastery, and control) in these relationships. Methods We used data from 8586 employees (48% women; average age of 48 years) who took part in the 2017 BAuA-Working Time Survey, a representative study of the German working population. Regression analyses were conducted to test main effects as well as mediation and moderation. Results Overtime work, Sunday work, and extended work availability were negatively related to state of recovery. Psychological detachment mediated these relationships. Furthermore, we found that relaxation and control mediated the association between extended work availability and state of recovery. However, no relevant moderating effects were found. Conclusions Altogether, our findings indicate that various aspects of boundaryless working hours pose a risk to employees’ state of recovery and that especially psychological detachment is a potential mechanism in these relationships. In addition, the results suggest that a high level of recovery experiences cannot attenuate these negative relationships in leisure time. Therefore, employers and employees alike should try to avoid or minimize boundaryless working hours.