GGS Section OBHRM: Online guest lecture "The interplay between work characteristics, physical activity, and employee well-being"

This guest lecture will be given by Prof. Dr. Juriena de Vries (Universiteit Leiden).

Abstract:

Physical exercise plays a vital role for employees. For instance, in my research, I show that physical activity is effective in preventing and reducing burnout complaints. However, I also show that these burnout complaints make it more difficult for employees to engage in sufficient physical activity. Employees’ work characteristics may also play a role in the effect of physical activity on employee well-being. In a recent study, I found that physical activity during leisure time was related to lower burnout complaints among employees with work that was not physically demanding but was related to higher burnout complaints among employees with physically demanding work. Research also shows that work characteristics may directly influence employees’ physical activity levels, and it has been suggested that employees’ physical activity level influence how well employees are able to cope with their work characteristics. All in all, there seems to be a complex interplay between employees’ work characteristics, physical activity, and well-being. My research aims to enhance insight into this complex interplay. I hope to contribute to deepened knowledge about how work can be designed to promote physical activity and how physical activity can be designed to promote employee well-being and improve coping with work, especially among employees who have difficulties engaging in sufficient physical activity. In this talk, I will give examples of previous, ongoing, and intended studies. I will also discuss some challenges commonly faced, such as the role of time, the type of physical activity, the measurement of physical activity, and the fact that physical activity needs (physical) recovery.

To request the link to the online event, please send an e-mail to: Sascha.Abdel-Hadi@psychol.uni-giessen.de