Working and Working Out: Decision-Making Inputs Connect Daily Work Demands to Physical Exercise

Claire E. Smith, Soomi Lee, Margaret E. Brooks, Clare L. Barratt, Haiyang Yang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Work demands can undermine engagement in physical exercise, posing a threat to employee health and well-being. Integrating resource theories and a novel decision-making theory called the decision triangle, we propose that this effect may emerge because work stress changes the energetic and emotional processes people engage in when making decisions about exercise after work. Using diary-style data across two workweeks (N = 83 workers, 783 days), we used multilevel latent profile analysis to extract common decision input profiles, or daily configurations of energy and affect as key decision-making resources. Consistent with the decision triangle, three profiles emerged: visceral inputs (low energy/high negative affect), automatic inputs (low energy/low negative affect), and logical inputs (high energy/low negative affect). Daily job demands were highest among the visceral profile. In turn, the daily visceral profile related to the lowest likelihood of and intensity of physical exercise after work, especially relative to the daily logical profile. Whether or not those in the daily automatic profile exercised depended on their health orientation, or trait-level value of maintaining personal health. Our results support decision-making as a promising mechanism explaining the link between work demands and healthy leisure choices. Organizational interventions can target work stress, health orientation, or logical decision-making to promote frequent and vigorous employee physical exercise.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)160-173
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of occupational health psychology
Volume28
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Applied Psychology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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