oa De relatie tussen herstel, werkdruk en slaap: een dagboekstudie

The relationship between recovery, work pressure and sleep quality: A diary study

Alicia L.T. Walkowiak, Ute R.Hülsheger & Fred R.H. Zijlstra, Gedrag & Organisatie, volume 23, December 2010, nr. 4, pp. 316-332.

Previous research showed that the experience of high work pressure can lead to fatigue and even to health complaints on the long term. This makes it very important, especially for people who experience high work pressure, to take sufficient time to recover after work. Sleep quality has a positive influence on recovery.

The aim of this diary study was to investigate whether sleep quality has a mediating effect on the relationship between work pressure and recovery.

Seventy-six people took part in the study and answered questions about work, recovery and sleep for 14 days. Results showed that work pressure indeed had a negative effect on recovery and sleep quality. Furthermore, we found a partial mediation effect: sleep quality mediated the relationship between work pressure and recovery. These results stress the importance of recovery and sleep quality, especially for people who experience high work pressure.