Promoting and prolonging the beneficial effects of a vacation with the help of a smartphone-based intervention

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

  • Anniina Virtanen
  • Jessica de Bloom
  • Jo Annika Reins
  • Christine Syrek
  • Dirk Lehr
  • Ulla Kinnunen

The aim of this study was to investigate whether beneficial vacation effects can be strengthened and prolonged with a smartphone-based intervention. In a four-week longitudinal study among 79 Finnish teachers, we investigated the development of recovery, well-being, and job performance before, during, and after a one-week vacation in three groups: non-users (n = 51), passive (n = 18) and active (n = 10) users. Participants were instructed to actively use a recovery app (called Holidaily) and complete five digital questionnaires. Most recovery experiences and well-being indicators increased during the vacation. Job performance and concentration capacity showed no significant time effects. Among active app users, creativity at work increased from baseline to after the vacation, whereas among non-users it decreased and among passive users it decreased a few days after the vacation but increased again one and a half weeks after the vacation. The fading of beneficial vacation effects on negative affect seems to have been slower among active app users. Only few participants used the app actively. Still, results suggest that a smartphone-based recovery intervention may support beneficial vacation effects.

Original languageEnglish
JournalGedrag en Organisatie
Volume32
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)250-278
Number of pages29
ISSN0921-5077
Publication statusPublished - 12.11.2019

    Research areas

  • Occupational e-mental health, Recovery from work, Recovery intervention, Smartphone-based intervention, Vacations
  • Psychology
  • Health sciences