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Open AccessOriginal Article

Effects of Idle Time on Well-Being: An Experimental Study

Published Online:November 13, 2023https://doi.org/10.1026/0932-4089/a000422

Abstract

Abstract: Idle time is a time during which employees are unable to complete work tasks for reasons beyond their control, which negatively impacts their performance and well-being. However, it has not yet been examined whether the objective event or the subjective appraisal of this situation causes these effects. Drawing on affective events theory, we conducted an experiment (N = 338) in which we manipulated objective idle time and measured the effects on well-being, mediated by subjective idle time. We found that objective idle time positively predicted subjective idle time, which in turn was negatively related to affect but not to task satisfaction. We found indirect effects of objective idle time on affect through subjective idle time. Boredom proneness was positively and age was negatively associated with subjective idle time. The results are consistent with affective events theory and suggest that idle time is appraised as such and negatively influences affect.


Auswirkungen von Leerlaufzeiten auf das Wohlbefinden. Eine experimentelle Studie

Zusammenfassung: Leerlaufzeiten sind Zeiten, in denen Beschäftigte aus Gründen, die außerhalb ihrer Kontrolle liegen, ihre Arbeitsaufgaben nicht erledigen können, was sich negativ auf ihre Leistung und ihr Wohlbefinden auswirkt. Ob das objektive Ereignis oder die subjektive Bewertung dieser Situation diese Auswirkungen verursacht, wurde bisher nicht untersucht. Auf Grundlage der Theorie der affektiven Ereignisse haben wir ein Experiment (N = 338) durchgeführt, bei dem wir objektive Leerlaufzeit manipuliert und die Auswirkungen auf das Wohlbefinden gemessen haben, mediiert durch subjektive Leerlaufzeit. Wir fanden, dass objektive Leerlaufzeit die subjektive Leerlaufzeit positiv vorhersagte, die negativ mit Affekt, aber nicht mit Aufgabenzufriedenheit assoziiert war. Wir fanden indirekte Effekte der objektiven Leerlaufzeit auf den Affekt durch subjektive Leerlaufzeit. Die Neigung zur Langeweile war positiv und Alter negativ mit der subjektiven Leerlaufzeit assoziiert. Die Ergebnisse stimmen mit der Theorie der affektiven Ereignisse überein und legen nahe, dass Leerlaufzeit als solche bewertet wird und den Affekt negativ beeinflusst.

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