Morning Recovery Research Articles

Leader support for recovery: A multi‐level approach to employee psychological detachment from work

AbstractThis research examines the role of leaders for employee recovery. We hypothesize that leader support for recovery (empathy for recovery, respect for boundaries, and role modelling) relates positively to employees' psychological detachment from work during non‐work time that, in turn, predicts well‐being outcomes. We argue that leader support for recovery can only be effective when the leader‐member exchange (LMX) relationship quality is sufficiently high. In a series of scale‐development and scale‐validation studies, we demonstrated the construct and content validity of a new measure of leader support for recovery. We tested our hypotheses with diary data collected from 152 employees. Respect for boundaries was positively related to employees' psychological detachment from work during non‐work time at the person level. Psychological detachment from work was positively related to low emotional exhaustion and a high morning recovery state, both at the person and the day level. LMX moderated the relationship between leader support for recovery (overall measure), empathy for recovery, and respect for boundaries on the one hand and psychological detachment on the other hand, such that the relationships became non‐significant when LMX was lower. The study suggests that leaders in high‐quality relationships can contribute to employee recovery – a process that helps to maintain employee well‐being.

Monitoring training load and perceived recovery indicators during the preseason and in-season phases in professional female basketball players.

During the basketball season, it is essential to carefully plan training and recovery activities to optimize players' performance. This study monitored training load and perceived recovery indicators in professional female basketball players across the preseason and in-season phases. Seventeen professional female basketball players (age: 19.6±3.1 years; height: 180.2±5.9 cm; playing position: 8 backcourt, 9 frontcourt) were monitored for eleven consecutive weeks. Each morning, players reported their perceived recovery using a 10-point Total Quality of Recovery (TQR) Scale. After each training session or game, players reported their perceived exertion using the CR-10 Scale, which was multiplied by the duration of the training or game to obtain the session load. Weekly load, monotony, strain, TQR<inf>AM</inf> (morning recovery) and TQR<inf>fw</inf> (recovery at the start of the following week) were calculated. Linear mixed models were performed to assess the effects of season phase (preseason; in-season), playing position (backcourt; frontcourt) and group (senior; under) on load and recovery variables. Weekly load, monotony and strain were higher in the preseason than the in-season phase (all P<0.001, ES: moderate-large). Strain was higher in senior players compared to under (P=0.045, ES: small). Regarding recovery variables, no effects were found for TQR<inf>AM</inf>, while TQR<inf>fw</inf> was higher in the preseason than in-season (P<0.001, ES: moderate) phase. Professional female basketball players experience lower internal loads but poorer perceived recovery during the in-season phase. Practitioners should carefully consider the stress of competition and the cumulative fatigue from high preseason loads during the transition from the preseason to the regular season.

Predicting daily recovery during long-term endurance training using machine learning analysis

PurposeThe aim of this study was to determine if machine learning models could predict the perceived morning recovery status (AM PRS) and daily change in heart rate variability (HRV change) of endurance athletes based on training, dietary intake, sleep, HRV, and subjective well-being measures.MethodsSelf-selected nutrition intake, exercise training, sleep habits, HRV, and subjective well-being of 43 endurance athletes ranging from professional to recreationally trained were monitored daily for 12 weeks (3572 days of tracking). Global and individualized models were constructed using machine learning techniques, with the single best algorithm chosen for each model. The model performance was compared with a baseline intercept-only model.ResultsPrediction error (root mean square error [RMSE]) was lower than baseline for the group models (11.8 vs. 14.1 and 0.22 vs. 0.29 for AM PRS and HRV change, respectively). At the individual level, prediction accuracy outperformed the baseline model but varied greatly across participants (RMSE range 5.5–23.6 and 0.05–0.44 for AM PRS and HRV change, respectively).ConclusionAt the group level, daily recovery measures can be predicted based on commonly measured variables, with a small subset of variables providing most of the predictive power. However, at the individual level, the key variables may vary, and additional data may be needed to improve the prediction accuracy.

Relaxation, morning recovery state and customer- and coworker-directed extra-role service behavior: the moderating effect of work–family interface

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the impact of overnight off-work relaxation on the performance of frontline service employees (FLEs). Specifically, the authors focused on FLEs' customer-directed extra-role service behavior (C-ERSB) and coworker-directed extra-role service behavior (CW-ERSB) as indicators of outstanding service performance. Drawing on the conservation of resources (Hobfoll, 1989) and ego depletion theories (Baumeister, 2002), the authors hypothesized that the positive effect of overnight relaxation on ERSBs will be mediated by the state of recovery. Additionally, the authors examined the boundary conditions of these relationships by testing the moderating effects of work–family conflict (WFC) and family–work conflict (FWC).Design/methodology/approachThe study employed an episodic sampling method. One hundred thirty-five FLEs completed two daily surveys (before- and after-work) over five consecutive workdays, yielding 636 time-lagged day-level observations. Multilevel path modeling was performed to analyze the mediation and second-stage moderated mediation effects.FindingsResults showed that overnight off-work relaxation was positively related to FLEs' next-day C-ERSB and CW-ERSB via next-morning recovery state. The positive relationship between overnight off-work relaxation and the next-morning recovery state was weaker for FLEs who experienced overnight WFC. FWC during work hours weakened the positive relationship between the next-morning recovery state and CW-ERSB, but not the relationship between the next-morning recovery state and C-ERSB.Originality/valueThe study used an episodic sampling method to reveal the significance of off-work relaxation, recovery and family–work interface on FLEs' ERSBs, a critical yet underexplored phenomenon in service literature. This study sheds light on the pathways to achieve exceptional service performance by revealing the importance of overnight off-work relaxation and the conditions that promote ERSBs.

Benefits of leaders' pleasurable recovery activities on follower performance via emotional contagion.

Recovery research has amply documented the benefits of employee recovery for their well-being and performance. However, most research to date has mainly focused on intraindividual benefits, so that we know relatively little about how focal employees' recovery activities might affect others at work. Bridging the gaps in the recovery and leadership literatures, this study focuses on leader-follower dyads and examines the interpersonal effects of leaders' recovery activities on followers' daily performance quality. In particular, our proposed model-which is informed by the conservation of resource and emotional contagion theories-explains the spillover-crossover process by which leaders' pleasurable recovery activity at home influences their positive affect (PA) displays at work, their followers' PA, and ultimately followers' task performance and creative behavior. We conducted two experience sampling method studies that relied on leader-member dyads of full-time working adults who responded to multiple online surveys for five workdays (n₁ = 511 daily observations) and 10 workdays (n₂ = 576 daily observations). In both studies, multilevel path analyses showed that leaders' previous-night pleasurable recovery activity leads to increased morning PA displays at work (observed by followers), which in turn crosses over to followers' midday PA and positive work outcomes. In particular, the affective crossover from leaders to followers was stronger when followers were in an inadequate morning recovery state and, therefore, more in need of resource replenishment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

The effect of acute sleep extension vs active recovery on post exercise recovery kinetics in rugby union players.

BackgroundElite rugby players experience poor sleep quality and quantity. This lack of sleep could compromise post-exercise recovery. Therefore, it appears central to encourage sleep in order to improve recovery kinetics. However, the effectiveness of an acute ergogenic strategy such as sleep extension on recovery has yet to be investigated among athletes.AimTo compare the effects of a single night of sleep extension to an active recovery session (CON) on post-exercise recovery kinetics.MethodsIn a randomised cross-over design, 10 male rugby union players participated in two evening training sessions (19:30) involving collision activity, 7-days apart. After each session, participants either extended their sleep to 10 hours or attended an early morning recovery session (07:30). Prior to (PRE), immediately after (POST 0 hour [h]), 14h (POST 14) and 36h (POST 36) post training, neuromuscular, perceptual and cognitive measures of fatigue were assessed. Objective sleep parameters were monitored two days before the training session and over the two-day recovery period.ResultsThe training session induced substantial decreases in countermovement jump mean power and wellness across all time points, while heart rate recovery decreased at POST 0 in both conditions. Sleep extension resulted in greater total sleep time (effect size [90% confidence interval]: 5.35 [4.56 to 6.14]) but greater sleep fragmentation than CON (2.85 [2.00 to 3.70]). Between group differences highlight a faster recovery of cognitive performance following sleep extension (-1.53 [-2.33 to -0.74]) at POST 14, while autonomic function (-1.00 [-1.85 to -0.16]) and upper-body neuromuscular function (-0.78 [-1.65 to 0.08]) were better in CON. However, no difference in recovery status between groups was observed at POST 36.ConclusionThe main finding of this study suggests that sleep extension could affect cognitive function positively but did not improve neuromuscular function the day after a late exercise bout.

Does looking forward set you back? Development and validation of the work prospection scale

ABSTRACT Findings from adjacent literatures suggest that thinking about the future may have implications for employee health, especially when such thoughts are affectively toned. However, existing constructs targeting work-related thinking are predominantly time-unspecific, possibly overlooking a substantial portion of work-related cognitions that occur on a daily basis. We therefore develop a comprehensive, multidimensional conceptualization of work prospection, as well as an instrument (Work Prospection Scale; WPS) that allows the measurement of three types of work prospection (cognitive, positive affective, and negative affective). We place work prospection in its wider nomological network and evaluate its validity across three cross-sectional studies (total N = 825) and a 5-day diary study (N = 199). Psychometric properties of the scale were supported across studies, and the WPS was related to, yet empirically distinct from related constructs. Criterion-related results showed that positive affective work prospection during the evening was associated with less fatigue and more recovery in the next morning. Conversely, negative affective work prospection was related to more evening fatigue, as well as less next morning recovery. Cognitive work prospection had no significant relationship with recovery indicators. Additionally, our findings show that targeting future-oriented cognitions adds to the prediction of employee recovery beyond time-unspecific measures.

A Diary Study on Anticipated Leisure Time, Morning Recovery, and Employees' Work Engagement.

Recovery during yesterday’s leisure time is beneficial for morning recovery, and morning recovery fosters employees’ work engagement, a positive, motivational state associated with job performance. We extended existing research by assuming that both, morning recovery (considered a resource) and anticipated leisure time (considered an anticipated resource gain), relate to work engagement. Anticipated leisure time comprises two constructs: general anticipation of leisure time, which refers to employees’ cognitive evaluation of their entire upcoming leisure time, and pleasant anticipation of a planned leisure activity, which describes a positive affective reaction because of one specific, upcoming leisure activity. We suggested that employees with high pleasant anticipation generate more thoughts of a planned leisure activity (ToPLA), which may distract them from their work, reducing their work engagement. A diary study over five days showed that morning recovery and general anticipation of leisure time were positively related to work engagement. Furthermore, employees with higher pleasant anticipation of a planned leisure activity reported more ToPLA. In contrast to our expectations, neither pleasant anticipation nor ToPLA was related to work engagement. In sum, this study introduced anticipated leisure time as a novel antecedent of work engagement and demonstrated that anticipated resource gains are important for high work engagement.

Too proactive to switch off: When taking charge drains resources and impairs detachment.

Although proactive behavior is an important determinant of individual work performance, its consequences for employee well-being and other personal outcomes have been largely neglected. In this study, we adopted a within-person perspective to investigate how taking charge behavior (a form of proactivity) affects employees' life outside of work by examining when and how it impacts on their ability to detach and recover from work. Drawing upon resource drain theory, we hypothesized that taking charge has the potential to undermine the process of detachment and recovery from work by draining personal resources. However, based on self-determination theory, we identified autonomous motivation as an essential boundary condition, such that the negative effects of taking charge on detachment and recovery via resource drain occur only when daily autonomous motivation is low. We tested this model on a sample of 77 managers, who provided daily survey data 3 times per day over 5 consecutive working days. Our analyses showed that daily taking charge behavior was negatively related to detachment in the evening, via resource drain, only on days in which people reported low autonomous motivation at work. However, this conditional effect of taking charge did not reach through to next morning recovery. No negative effects of daily taking charge on detachment were observed when people had high autonomous motivation. Overall, these findings suggest that, under some motivational conditions, proactivity can consume resources and interfere with the process of detachment. We offer practical advice for how organizations might encourage proactive behavior while minimizing its drawbacks. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Cortical gradients of functional connectivity are robust to state-dependent changes following sleep deprivation

Sleep deprivation leads to significant impairments in cognitive performance and changes to the interactions between large scale cortical networks, yet the hierarchical organization of cortical activity across states is still being explored. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to assess activations and connectivity during cognitive tasks in 20 healthy young adults, during three states: (i) following a normal night of sleep, (ii) following 24hr of total sleep deprivation, and (iii) after a morning recovery nap. Situating cortical activity during cognitive tasks along hierarchical organizing gradients based upon similarity of functional connectivity patterns, we found that regional variations in task-activations were captured by an axis differentiating areas involved in executive control from default mode regions and paralimbic cortex. After global signal regression, the range of functional differentiation along this axis at baseline was significantly related to decline in working memory performance (2-back task) following sleep deprivation, as well as the extent of recovery in performance following a nap. The relative positions of cortical regions within gradients did not significantly change across states, except for a lesser differentiation of the visual system and increased coupling of the posterior cingulate cortex with executive control areas after sleep deprivation. This was despite a widespread increase in the magnitude of functional connectivity across the cortex following sleep deprivation. Cortical gradients of functional differentiation thus appear relatively insensitive to state-dependent changes following sleep deprivation and recovery, suggesting that there are no large-scale changes in cortical functional organization across vigilance states. Certain features of particular gradient axes may be informative for the extent of decline in performance on more complex tasks following sleep deprivation, and could be beneficial over traditional voxel- or parcel-based approaches in identifying realtionships between state-dependent brain activity and behavior.

Cyclic alternating pattern and interictal epileptiform discharges during morning sleep after sleep deprivation in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Sleep deprivation (SD) increases the occurrence of interictal epileptiform discharges (IED) compared to basal EEG in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). In adults, EEG after SD is usually performed in the morning after SD. We aimed to evaluate whether morning sleep after SD bears additional IED-inducing effects compared with nocturnal physiological sleep, and whether changes in sleep stability (described by the cyclic alternating pattern-CAP) play a significant role. Adult patients with TLE underwent in-lab night polysomnography (n-PSG) and, within 7days from n-PSG, they underwent also a morning EEG after night SD (SD-EEG). We included only TLE patients in which both recordings showed IED. SD-EEG consisted of waking up patients at 2:00 AM and performing video EEG at 8:00 AM. For both recordings, we obtained the following markers for the first sleep cycle: IED/h (Spike Index, SI), sleep macrostructure, microstructure (NREM CAP rate; A1, A2 and A3 Indices), and SI association with CAP variables. The macrostructure of the first sleep cycle was similar in n-PSG and morning SD-EEG, whereas CAP rate and SI were significantly higher in SD-EEG. SI increase was selectively associated with CAP phases. SD increases the instability of morning recovery sleep compared with n-PSG, and particularly enhances CAP A1 phases, which are associated with the majority of IED. Thus, higher instability of morning recovery sleep may account at least in part for the increased IED yield in SD-EEG in TLE patients.

The recovery potential of intrinsically versus extrinsically motivated off‐job activities

Thus far, studies on employee recovery have produced mixed findings about which off‐job activities contribute or impede recovery. We suggest that the recovery potential of an off‐job activity depends on the employee's motivation for the activity. Based on Self‐Determination theory, we expect that leisure activities (social, low‐effort, physical activities), particularly lead to next morning recovery when one has intrinsic, as opposed to extrinsic, motivational tendencies for the activity. Likewise, the harmful effects of high‐duty off‐job activities (work‐related tasks, household chores, care tasks) are expected to be less severe when one is intrinsically, and not extrinsically, motivated for the tasks. During five consecutive days, 74 employees (356 data points) recorded the hours spent on six off‐job activities before going to sleep, and their feelings of exhaustion and recovery the next morning, while overall motivation for each of the six activities was measured by a general questionnaire. As predicted, the positive relationship between leisure activities and next morning recovery was more pronounced among employees with greater inherent intrinsic, in comparison with extrinsic motivation for the activity. Moreover, intrinsic motivation attenuated the positive relationship between high‐duty tasks and next morning exhaustion. Our findings highlight the importance of intrinsic motivation for the recovery potential of off‐job activities.Practitioner points Engaging in leisure activities after work contributes most to recovery when the employee is intrinsically motivated for those activities. Work‐related off‐job activities are less harmful for recovery when the employee has a general intrinsic, as opposed to an extrinsic, motivation for work‐related activities. Organizations may facilitate employee well‐being by discouraging employees to work beyond regular work hours during leisure time. Organizations may facilitate employee well‐being by creating a work climate in which intrinsic work motives are encouraged.

Reciprocal relations between recovery and work engagement: The moderating role of job stressors.

In this paper, we examined the within-person relations between morning recovery level (i.e., feeling refreshed and replenished) and work engagement throughout the day, and between work engagement throughout the day and the subsequent recovery level at the end of the workday. We hypothesized that job stressors (situational constraints, job demands) moderate these relations. A diary study over 1 workweek with 2 measurement occasions per day (N = 111 persons) provided support for most of the hypotheses: Morning recovery level predicted work engagement, and work engagement predicted subsequent recovery level at the end of the workday after controlling for morning recovery level. As predicted, situational constraints attenuated these relations, but job demands did not. The results suggest that recovery translates into employee work engagement, and work engagement, in turn, prevents a loss in recovery level throughout the day, particularly when situational constraints are low. Situational constraints seem to interrupt the reciprocal processes between recovery level and work engagement.

Cyclic alternating pattern in narcolepsy patients and healthy controls after partial and total sleep deprivation

Objective To investigate the regulation NREM sleep at baseline and in morning recovery sleep after partial and total sleep deprivation (SD) in narcolepsy–cataplexy (NC) using cyclic alternating pattern (CAP). Methods Daytime sleep under either increased (no sleep in the previous night) or decreased sleep pressure (allowing 4 h of sleep, 23:00–3:00 h) was recorded in ten drug-free, HLA-positive, hypocretin deficient NC patients and ten age, gender and body mass index matched healthy controls. Baseline sleep was also recorded and used for comparison purposes. CAP parameters were scored and analyzed for each subject. Results Narcolepsy patients had significantly lower CAP rate, CAP index, CAP time, number of CAP cycles, A1 index and number of A1 cycles in comparison to healthy controls at baseline as well as after partial and total SD. In both narcolepsy patients and healthy control subjects there was a significant decrease in these parameters after partial and total SD but the changes followed a similar pattern. Conclusion The persistence of baseline differences in CAP parameters between narcolepsy patients and healthy controls and their similar behavior after partial and total SD suggests similar homeostatic NREM sleep regulation but on a different level. Significance CAP analysis demonstrates that NREM sleep homeostasis although altered, is functional in narcolepsy patients.

Effect of flumazenil-augmentation on microsleep and mood in depressed patients during partial sleep deprivation

The antidepressive effect of sleep deprivation (SD) in depressed patients disappears after sleep of the recovery night and after early morning naps. Both can provoke a rapid relapse into depression in SD-responders. In addition, the occurrence of short episodes of sleep (termed microsleep, MS) during partial SD (PSD) is associated with SD-nonresponse, suggesting that MS during the time awake may be related to relapse or PSD-nonresponse. The GABA-benzodiazepine receptor antagonist flumazenil augments vigilance and reduces NonREM-sleep pressure in early morning recovery sleep in volunteers after SD. Therefore, in this study 27 patients with major depression were subjected to a PSD. In a double blind randomized design either flumazenil or placebo was orally applied during PSD in order to examine whether the application of flumazenil reduces sleep propensity and thus, increases antidepressant efficacy of PSD. EEG was registered continuously for 60 h by a portable device for the assessment of microsleep episodes at baseline and during PSD. Flumazenil application significantly suppressed frequency and total amount of MS. While the antidepressant efficacy of PSD was not different between flumazenil and placebo during PSD, the subjective mood improved after the recovery night in patients treated with flumazenil. It is concluded that GABAergic mechanisms are involved in the regulation of MS during PSD, which may be related to a mood stabilizing effect after the recovery night. However, the mechanisms underlying the association between the occurrence of MS during PSD and mood variation have to be further clarified.

How sleep affects the developmental learning of bird song

Sleep affects learning and development in humans and other animals, but the role of sleep in developmental learning has never been examined. Here we show the effects of night-sleep on song development in the zebra finch by recording and analysing the entire song ontogeny. During periods of rapid learning we observed a pronounced deterioration in song structure after night-sleep. The song regained structure after intense morning singing. Daily improvement in similarity to the tutored song occurred during the late phase of this morning recovery; little further improvement occurred thereafter. Furthermore, birds that showed stronger post-sleep deterioration during development achieved a better final imitation. The effect diminished with age. Our experiments showed that these oscillations were not a result of sleep inertia or lack of practice, indicating the possible involvement of an active process, perhaps neural song-replay during sleep. We suggest that these oscillations correspond to competing demands of plasticity and consolidation during learning, creating repeated opportunities to reshape previously learned motor skills.

Study of a patient population investigated for excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)

This study included all patients referred to the out-patient department of our sleep disorders centre from 1993 to 1999 on account of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). As a first step, patients in whom a diagnosis was established following appropriate polysomnography were excluded: this included sleep apnea syndrome, increased upper airway resistance syndrome, narcolepsy, periodic movements during sleep or other parasomnia, and epilepsy. Patients regularly taking psychotropic substances or with psychiatric disorders were also excluded. Finally, 128 patients remained in whom no clear diagnosis had been established for EDS, 70 women and 58 men, their ages ranging from 16 to 77 years. They underwent a 48-h recording (night 1–MSLT–night 2–continuous day). The aim of the study was to establish, define and characterise different groups of undiagnosed EDS patients using clinical, electrophysiological and immunological data with the help of hierarchical cluster analysis. Eight groups were characterised: group 1: mild hypersomnia type 1 ( n = 11); group 2: hypersomnia frequently associated with HLA type DR2-DQw1 ( n = 11); group 3: mild hypersomnia type 2 ( n = 28); group 4: morning recovery from disrupted sleep ( n = 19); group 5: young “long sleepers with difficulty at waking up” ( n = 17); group 6: idiopathic hypersomnia ( n = 15); group 7: poor or short sleepers since childhood ( n = 8); group 8: older poor sleepers with a late onset of symptoms ( n = 19). Characteristic features of these different groups provided consistent and objective arguments leading to a more precise diagnosis for these patients, and helped the initiation of appropriate management and treatment.

Human plasma DSIP decreases at the initiation of sleep at different circadian times.

Nocturnal plasma delta sleep-inducing peptide-like immunoreactivity (DSIP-LI) was determined serially in seven healthy male subjects. Time courses during nocturnal sleep (2300-0800 h), nocturnal sleep deprivation (2300-0500 h), and morning recovery sleep (0500-0800 h) after sleep deprivation were compared. A significant decrease in plasma DSIP-LI was found at the transition from wakefulness to sleep in both evening sleep (2300 h) and morning recovery sleep (0500 h). Time courses were accompanied by physiological changes in sleep electroencephalographic slow-wave activity, and in plasma concentrations of cortisol and human growth hormone. No sleep stage specificity was found. It is concluded that DSIP is influenced by the initiation of sleep.

Effects of prolonged wakefulness on cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) during sleep recovery at different circadian phases.

Two separate groups of healthy subjects aged between 20 and 30 years underwent a random sequence of two non-consecutive polysomnographic recordings under standard conditions (night basal sleep) and after continuous sleep deprivation (recovery sleep). In the first group of 6 subjects (3 males and 3 females) recovery sleep occurred in the morning (after 24 h of prior waking); in the second group of 6 subjects (3 males and 3 females) recovery sleep occurred in the night (after 36 h of prior waking). In all cases the recording time was restricted to 500 minutes. Scoring was accomplished on conventional sleep variables and on Cyclic Alternating Pattern (CAP) parameters, while statistical analysis was based on a 2 x 2 ANOVA test. Compared to the night basal conditions, total sleep time and total NREM sleep were significantly longer in night recovery sleep and shorter in morning recovery sleep, respectively. No significant differences were found for sleep latency, intra-sleep awakenings, stage 2, REM sleep, NREM stages and slow-wave sleep. Total CAP time, CAP time in slow-wave sleep and all CAP rates were significantly higher in morning recovery sleep and lower in night recovery sleep. The enhanced amounts of CAP time and CAP rates during morning recovery sleep may be the outcome of two opposite forces, i.e. high sleep pressure versus maximum wake propensity. In contrast, the lower values of CAP during night recovery sleep suggest an in-phase associations between strong sleep pressure and the circadian clock.