< Back to previous page

Publication

A diary study on the role of psychological detachment in the spillover of self-control demands to employees’ ego depletion and the crossover to their partner.

Journal Contribution - Journal Article

This study examined whether daily self-control demands at work deplete one’s self-control resources (i.e., ego depletion) at work and whether these demands have prolonged effects by spilling over to the home domain via a lack of psychological detachment. Moreover, we investigated the daily crossover of ego depletion at home between partners and its influence on spousal interactions. Results of our dyadic diary study revealed that daily self-control demands at work are positively related to ego depletion experienced at work and at home, and negatively related to psychological detachment. Psychological detachment is directly negatively related to ego depletion experienced at home and mediates the positive relationship between self-control demands at work and ego depletion at home. With regard to crossover mechanisms, we found support for a direct positive crossover of ego depletion of the actor to the ego depletion of the actor’s partner. In addition, the ego depletion of the actor’s partner related
directly negatively to providing spousal support and positively to spousal conflict and moreover mediated the relation between ego depletion of the actor and both spousal interactions. Implications for practice and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Journal: European Journal of Work & Organizational Psychology
ISSN: 1359-432X
Issue: 1
Volume: 27
Pages: 140-152
Publication year:2018
Keywords:crossover, ego depletion, psychological detachment, Self-control demands, spillover
BOF-keylabel:yes
BOF-publication weight:2
CSS-citation score:1
Authors:International
Authors from:Higher Education
Accessibility:Open