Published in:
01-11-2015 | Original Article
Patterns of daily energy management at work: relations to employee well-being and job characteristics
Authors:
Ulla Kinnunen, Taru Feldt, Jessica de Bloom, Kalevi Korpela
Published in:
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
|
Issue 8/2015
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Abstract
Purpose
The present study aimed at identifying subgroups of employees with similar daily energy management strategies at work and finding out whether well-being indicators and job characteristics differ between these subgroups.
Methods
The study was conducted by electronic questionnaire among 1122 Finnish employees. First, subgroups of employees with unique and distinctive patterns of energy management strategies were identified using latent profile analysis. Second, differences in well-being indicators and job characteristics between the subgroups were investigated by means of ANCOVA.
Results
Four subgroups (i.e., patterns) were identified and named: Passives (n = 371), Averages (n = 390), Casuals (n = 272) and Actives (n = 89). Passives used all three (i.e., work-related, private micro-break and physical micro-break) strategies less frequently than other subgroups, whereas Actives used work-related and physical energy management strategies more frequently than other subgroups. Averages used all strategies on an average level. Casuals’ use of all strategies came close to that of Actives, notably in a shared low use of private micro-break strategies. Active and Casual patterns maintained vigor and vitality. Autonomy and social support at work played a significant role in providing opportunities for the use of beneficial energy management strategies.
Conclusions
Autonomy and support at work seem to support active and casual use of daily energy management, which is important in staying energized throughout the working day.