Blurring boundaries: The role of recovery experiences in the relationship between work-life integration and emotional exhaustion

This study explores the impact of recovery experiences on the relationship between work-life integration and emotional exhaustion. Based on the assumptions of the Effort-Recovery-Model, the mediating effects of the recovery experiences psychological detachment and relaxation are examined. Data were collected from 299 employees using an online questionnaire. The results show that work-life integration and emotional exhaustion are positively associated. Furthermore, the findings indicate that this relationship is fully mediated by psychological detachment and relaxation. The study provides evidence that blurred boundaries between work and private life are associated with emotional exhaustion and that recovery experiences could help to explain this relationship. The study underscores the necessity for organizations to implement targeted strategies to support and promote healthy boundary management and employees’ recovery experiences.

Keywords: Work-Life Integration, Boundary Management, Recovery Experiences, Emotional Exhaustion