Intrinsic motivation as a double-edged sword: Investigating effects on well-being and the role of flex place practices as moderator to buffer adverse effects.

Ensuring employee well-being is a crucial task for organizations. While previous research has mainly focused on positive effects of intrinsic motivation, in this study, we took a more comprehensive view on intrinsic motivation and work-related well-being. More specifically, building on conservation of resources theory, we focused on two facets of work-related well-being (job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion) and examined direct (beneficial) and indirect (adverse) effects on well-being via detachment as an inconsistent mediation model. Furthermore, we took a closer look at how the use of flex place practices (FPPs), giving employees the opportunity to choose from where to work, can attenuate potential adverse effects of high intrinsic motivation. We collected data from 408 employees of a European manufacturer at two points of measurement, the first one before and the second one after the introduction of FPPs. Results showed that intrinsic motivation had a positive direct effect on changes in well-being, and an adverse indirect effect on changes in well-being via reduced detachment. For employees using FPPs, this adverse indirect effect was dissolved. This research is among the first to explore potential downsides of intrinsic motivation and the role of FPPs in the functioning of intrinsic motivation.

Patient expectations shape convalescence after major liver surgery - A prospective, randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Several studies suggest an important influence of patient expectations on outcomes. We hypothesized that patient expectations with regard to length of postoperative stay influence convalescence after liver resections. METHOD: This prospective, randomized study compared patients who were preoperatively either informed to be expected to stay 7-10 days (short arm) or 12-16 days (long arm) after major liver resections (≥4 segments). Additionally, psychological traits were assessed using questionnaires and the time to fulfillment of objective discharge criteria [oral analgesics only, first bowel movement, ability to tolerate solid food, full mobilization, no complications which need general anesthesia (>CD IIIa)] was defined as the primary endpoint. RESULTS: Patients in the short arm reached the objective discharge criteria after 8.39 days (SD 3.60), while patients in the long arm needed 12.73 days (SD 3.43) (p = 0.001). The actual length of stay in the short arm was 12.00 (IQR 8-16) and 19.3 days in the long arm (IQR 14-26) (p = 0.008). A more pronounced self-efficacy correlated with earlier fulfillment of the objective discharge criteria (p = 0.048), whereas patients placing a high value on their health needed more time (p = 0.049). CONCLUSION: The expectation of a shorter length of stay results in a quicker objective, physical patient convalescence after major liver resections.

Workflow interruptions and employee work outcomes: The moderating role of polychronicity.

Workflow interruptions are one of the most commonly experienced stressors at work. This research expands existing literature on workflow interruptions in a diary field study. We apply a within-person approach and investigate detrimental effects of daily workflow interruptions on both daily satisfaction with performance and daily emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, we introduce polychronicity (the trait-like preference of a person to deal with several activities at the same time) as a buffering factor in this relationship. Results of the diary study with knowledge workers over 5 consecutive working days (N = 149, 644 daily observations) showed that on days on which participants experienced a large amount of workflow interruptions, they reported lower levels of satisfaction with their performance and higher levels of emotional exhaustion on that same day. Polychronicity failed to moderate the positive association between interruptions and emotional exhaustion. However, polychronicity significantly moderated the negative association between daily interruptions and daily satisfaction with participants' own performance in a way that for people ranking high on polychronicity this negative association was dissolved. (PsycINFO Database Record