Taking a break: Exploring the restorative benefits of short breaks and vacations
This paper applies Attention Restoration Theory to explore the restorative benefits of short breaks and vacations among Australian university staff (N = 156). Three groups (Vacation, Short Break and No Break) were compared using both objective (physiological and cognitive) and subjective (self-repor...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2021-05-01
|
| Series: | Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666957920300069 |
| _version_ | 1818678086654230528 |
|---|---|
| author | Jan Packer |
| author_facet | Jan Packer |
| author_sort | Jan Packer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper applies Attention Restoration Theory to explore the restorative benefits of short breaks and vacations among Australian university staff (N = 156). Three groups (Vacation, Short Break and No Break) were compared using both objective (physiological and cognitive) and subjective (self-report) measures. Cognitive and self-report measures demonstrated that taking a break increases the ability to focus attention and improves restorative well-being. No consistent effects were found using physiological measures. Short breaks have an advantage over longer vacations on some measures, and this may be explained by attributes of the environment and activities in which vacationers engaged. Detachment from work is particularly important in achieving restorative benefits. Suggestions are offered for optimising the restorative effectiveness of taking a break. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T09:09:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c0ba34a197fe4fc5bc006c5ade7b08c4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-9579 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T09:09:41Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights |
| spelling | doaj.art-c0ba34a197fe4fc5bc006c5ade7b08c42022-12-21T21:55:17ZengElsevierAnnals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights2666-95792021-05-0121100006Taking a break: Exploring the restorative benefits of short breaks and vacationsJan Packer0Corresponding author at: UQ Business School, University of Queensland, QLD 4072, Australia.; University of Queensland, Business School, AustraliaThis paper applies Attention Restoration Theory to explore the restorative benefits of short breaks and vacations among Australian university staff (N = 156). Three groups (Vacation, Short Break and No Break) were compared using both objective (physiological and cognitive) and subjective (self-report) measures. Cognitive and self-report measures demonstrated that taking a break increases the ability to focus attention and improves restorative well-being. No consistent effects were found using physiological measures. Short breaks have an advantage over longer vacations on some measures, and this may be explained by attributes of the environment and activities in which vacationers engaged. Detachment from work is particularly important in achieving restorative benefits. Suggestions are offered for optimising the restorative effectiveness of taking a break.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666957920300069Attention Restoration TheoryWell-beingPerceived Destination Restorative Quality ScaleDetachment from workCognitive performanceRestored Mental State scale |
| spellingShingle | Jan Packer Taking a break: Exploring the restorative benefits of short breaks and vacations Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights Attention Restoration Theory Well-being Perceived Destination Restorative Quality Scale Detachment from work Cognitive performance Restored Mental State scale |
| title | Taking a break: Exploring the restorative benefits of short breaks and vacations |
| title_full | Taking a break: Exploring the restorative benefits of short breaks and vacations |
| title_fullStr | Taking a break: Exploring the restorative benefits of short breaks and vacations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Taking a break: Exploring the restorative benefits of short breaks and vacations |
| title_short | Taking a break: Exploring the restorative benefits of short breaks and vacations |
| title_sort | taking a break exploring the restorative benefits of short breaks and vacations |
| topic | Attention Restoration Theory Well-being Perceived Destination Restorative Quality Scale Detachment from work Cognitive performance Restored Mental State scale |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666957920300069 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT janpacker takingabreakexploringtherestorativebenefitsofshortbreaksandvacations |