Based on a twenty-year research study, Work, Vacation and Well-being delves into the ubiquitous yet often-underestimated issues surrounding vacation and respite. Providing an original outlook on how breaks from work can be beneficial for the well-being of employees, this book also addresses the potential negative impacts of vacation. Taking into account factors concerning the nature of the break and the person taking it, Etzion delves into the benefits and drawbacks of workplace breaks, from annual leave to maternity leave and sabbaticals. Work, Vacation and Well-being looks at breaks from work through various social and cultural lenses, to present a balanced and well-researched perspective on all angles of taking a break. Perfect for students of Organizational and Health Psychology, Work, Vacation and Well-being also widely appeals to those studying Social Policy, Management Studies, Occupational Health and Research Methods.

This insightful book addresses recovery as a comprehensive concept for prevention of health-threats in modern societies through active lifestyles. Several areas of society are addressed, such as sports, work environments, and the military. Internationally renowned experts from different scientific disciplines present results of empirical research as well as applied intervention techniques to effectively manage stress and promote recovery in healthy lifestyles. Recognizing the systemic nature of stress and recovery is critical to designing effective interventions and policies. By promoting a balance between stress and recovery in physiological, psychological, and social terms, individuals and societies can build resilience, promote optimal well-being, and mitigate the negative effects of chronic stress. This book focuses on key research in the area of recovery and healthy living and addresses psychological, somatic and organizational prevention strategies that foster recovery and healthy lifestyles in society. It offers an expanded understanding of recovery in the health field and applies this to different areas, such as the workplace. Though written for the scientific community, the book will also benefit applied health scientists, instructors, and students, as well as readers interested in applying effective well-being and recovery techniques in their own lives.

Focuses on processes related to recovery and unwinding from job stress. This book demonstrates that recovery research is a very promising approach for understanding the processes of job stress and relieve from job stress more fully.

Occupational health psychology (OHP) involves the application of psychology to improving the quality of work life and to promoting and protecting the safety, health and well-being of employees. Achieving these aims requires researchers and practitioners to possess in-depth knowledge of the processes that are presumed to bring about the desired outcomes. To date, most studies in OHP have relied on cross-sectional designs in examining these processes. In such designs all variables of interest are measured simultaneously. Although this has generated useful insights in how particular phenomena are associated, such designs cannot be trusted when it comes to drawing causal inferences: association is not causation. This book therefore focuses on longitudinal research designs in OHP, whereby the concepts of interest are measured several times, offering much stronger evidence for causal relationships. The authors focus on design issues in longitudinal research (such as the number of measurements chosen, and the length of the time lags between these measurements), and illustrate these issues in the context of applied research on topics such as the work-family interface, conflict at work, and employee well-being. By doing so this volume provides a state-of-the-art overview of current research in OHP, both in terms of its findings and methodologies. This book is based on a special issue of the journal Work & Stress.

What makes life worth living? Many people would argue that it is fulfilling experiences. These experiences are characterised by feelings of joy and pleasure, positive relationships and a sense of engagement, meaning and achievement. Tourism is arguably one of the largest self-initiated commercial interventions to promote well being and happiness on the global scale but yet there is absence in the literature on the topic of fulfilling tourist experiences from psychological perspectives. Drawing on insights and theories from the research field of positive psychology (the study of well being), this is the first edited book to evaluate tourist experiences from positive psychology perspectives. The volume addresses the important topic of fulfilment through the lens of the world’s largest social global phenomenon tourism. In doing so, the book refreshes and challenges some aspects of tourist behaviour research. The chapters are grouped under three broad sections which reflect a range of positive psychological outcomes that personal holiday experiences can produce, namely; happiness and humour; meaning and self-actualisation and health and restoration. The book critically explores these fulfilling experiences from interdisciplinary perspectives and includes research studies from wide range of geographical regions. By analysing the contemporary fulfilling tourist experiences the book will provide further understanding of tourist behaviour and experience. Written by leading academics this significant volume will appeal to those interested in Tourism and Positive Psychology.

Every day we hear stories about the consequences of human frailties for individuals, their families and friends, and their organizations. Some of these stories are about alcohol and drug addiction and other harmful lifestyle choices, but human frailty also leads to all kinds of unethical and illegal behaviour. Individuals are convicted of bribery and corruption, price fixing, theft and fraud, sexual harassment and abuse of authority. Politicians fiddle their expenses, sports people cheat and fix matches and school and university students and teachers cheat to enhance exam results. Studies have shown that business students cheat more than others and efforts to teach ethical behaviour in business schools make little difference. The media who bring us stories of others' frailties themselves engage in unethical and illegal conduct in pursuit of an edge over their rivals. The contributions to this latest addition to Gower's Psychological and Behavioural Aspects of Risk Series place the spotlight on individuals, their behavioural choices and the consequences that follow for theirs and others' lives and careers. The conclusion is that people do have choices and options and that, whilst there are no easy or quick fixes in addressing self-limiting behaviours, successful avoidance of the worst outcomes can been achieved. This book provides guidance on the practical steps that need to be taken in order to gain a sense of proportion of what is important and of how we are doing, if we are to address our frailties and stop making unethical choices.

This engaging book presents nine empirical chapters that explore topics such as lifestyle entrepreneurship, lifestyle mobility, luxury experiences, and tourism-related well-being. Unlike most research focusing on Western contexts, several of the studies involve Asian regions (particularly China, including Hong Kong and Taiwan) and capture the growing popularity of Asian perspectives. This edited volume, authored by researchers across China, New Zealand, the US, the UK, and Portugal, provides researchers and practitioners in tourism and hospitality, along with readers interested in the general "travel and lifestyle" domain, timely and relevant knowledge. The editors hope that these carefully chosen chapters will inspire future studies and will give its readers a fresh insight in lifestyle’s role in tourism. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing.

This Handbook focuses on organizational well being in its widest sense, and is concerned with reviewing the factors which are associated with ill health, as well as those which promote positive health and well being. In it, leading international scholars focus on the key issues around measuring well being, and individual and organizational factors.

A comprehensive work that brings together and explores state-of-the-art research on the link between stress and health outcomes. Offers the most authoritative resource available, discussing a range of stress theories as well as theories on preventative stress management and how to enhance well-being Timely given that stress is linked to seven of the ten leading causes of death in developed nations, yet paradoxically successful adaptation to stress can enable individuals to flourish Contributors are an international panel of authoritative researchers and practitioners in the various specialty subjects addressed within the work

This is a book about recovery. Not recovery from drugs, alcohol, or surgery, but recovery from the numerous and relentless demands we face in handling our everyday obligations. These demands take a toll on us. Regardless of whether they come from paid employment, caring for young children, looking after elderly parents, or trying to get through graduate school, our daily obligations weigh heavily on us. They deplete our energy. They drain us of motivation. They leave us feeling weary and exhausted. If you tend to feel worn out and want to know how to replenish yourself, this book is for you. We should be able to recover from our daily obligations during our downtime. But many of us don’t. In this book we will explain why downtime is inadequate for helping us recharge our batteries, and present you with an effective alternative. Recent scientific developments from around the globe have shed light on the processes that reverse the draining effects of our obligations and help us successfully recover in our leisure time. Not only that, research also reveals that when effective recovery occurs it not only recharges our batteries, but makes us feel happier, makes us healthier, and makes us better at handling the demands that drained us in the first place. We call this boosting to reflect the multi-pronged benefits of successful recovery. In this book we draw on the most cutting-edge science to explain how to transform our ineffective downtime into valuable uptime. Uptime is the time away from our obligations that successfully satisfies the factors that lead us to feel replenished, recharged, recovered, and gives us a boost. Praise for Boost: “Boost has deep implications for everyone” ~ From the Foreword by Shawn Achor, New York Times, bestselling author of Big Potential and The Happiness Advantage “This book is bound to change your life! Writing in an informative, and highly engaging style, Gruman and Healey bring to light a revolutionary new way of dealing with the intensity of everyday obligations. This is by far one of the most comprehensive integrations of modern science and seasoned wisdom in positive psychology. I highly recommend this book.” ~ Mirella De Civita, PhD President of Papillon MDC, Founder of Grand Heron International, author of The Courage to Fall into Life "'Boost' does just that! It gives you a lift! This book provides practical and encouraging examples of how to re-energize in the midst of our challenged and time pressured lives. An enjoyable and extremely beneficial read." ~ Chris Kotsopoulos CEO, Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada "Do you want to know how to recharge? Boost is a must read for you. This fantastic book helps those of us wanting to understand the impact of replenishing ourselves on enhancing our connections, productivity, and happiness, and provides strategies to seriously improve the quality of our lives." ~ Lola Bendana Director, Multi-Languages Corporation “In the age of doing more with less, what every busy working person needs most is proven, practical strategies for staying productive and focused. This book delivers. After all I’ve read and heard about the energy crisis in today’s workplace, Boost told me a lot I didn’t know—and will apply, starting now.” ~ Rona Maynard Former Editor of Chatelaine, Author of My Mother’s Daughter “In today’s world of smartphones, tablets, and relentless connectivity, it is almost impossible to find a reprieve from the stresses of our day to day lives. Gruman and Healey provide clear, well articulated, evidence-based guidance in their expertly written book. Boost is an essential read for anyone looking to live life to the fullest.” ~ Marie-Helene Budworth, PhD Associate Professor, School of Human Resource Management, York University