Proactive vitality management in the work context: development and validation of a new instrument

Emma M. Op den Kamp, Maria Tims, Arnold B. Bakker, Evangelia Demerouti

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

62 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In the present research, we use proactivity literature and studies on energy at work to argue that individuals may proactively manage their vitality (i.e., physical and mental energy) to promote optimal functioning at work. We develop and validate a scale to measure proactive vitality management (PVM), and explore the nomological network. We conducted a five-day diary study (N = 133; 521 days), a survey study (N = 813) and a cross-sectional study measuring daily PVM (N = 246) among working individuals from various occupational sectors. The results show that PVM can be reliably measured with eight items that load on one overall factor, both on general and daily level. Furthermore, daily PVM was moderately but positively related to the use of work-related strategies and micro-breaks. Moreover, PVM related positively to relevant personal characteristics (i.e., proactive personality and self-insight) and showed moderate but positive relationships with job crafting and relaxation (convergent validity). PVM was unrelated to psychological detachment and decreasing hindering demands (discriminant validity). Finally, PVM was positively related to well-being, in-role work performance, creative work performance and performance on the Remote Associates Test (criterion validity). We conclude that employees may promote their own work performance through the use of PVM.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)493-505
Number of pages13
JournalEuropean Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology
Volume27
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Jul 2018

Keywords

  • Creativity
  • job performance
  • proactive vitality management
  • vitality
  • well-being

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Applied Psychology
  • Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management

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