Persistent Work-related Technology Use, Recovery and Well-being Processes

Theaim of this work is to provide insight into the process of employee recoveryand well-being in regard to work-related ICT use during after-hours. Therefore,we discuss (1) theories that help us to understand the determinants andoutcomes of this behavior, (2) our core concepts recovery and well-being, and(3) previous empirical findings on ICT use after hours for work purposes. Onthe basis of literature review, we propose a new conceptual overall frameworkof ICT use after hours for work purposes with the focus on employee recoveryand well-being processes. Thereby, we posit ICT use after hours for workpurposes as potential stressor, resource, or demand (see action theory byHacker, 1998, 2003; Frese and Zapf 1994), depending on many personal and environmentalfactors, but primarily on cognitive appraisals (see transactional model ofstress by Lazarus and Folkman 1984). This three-way division enables us topropose various linear and non-linear associations to focused outcomes. Weconclude with an overall discussion on further research concerning theidentified research gaps.