I'll be back! Examining adaptive change processes in emotional exhaustion and time pressure.

Abstract

This study extends previous research on temporal dynamics and change processes of strain and work-related stressors by examining adaptive change in both emotional exhaustion and time pressure. Drawing on adaptation and the conservation of resource theories, we used latent growth and change score modeling to explore (a) whether employees adapt to emotional exhaustion over time and (b) how changes in the levels of emotional exhaustion and time pressure are related over time, considering their reciprocal relationship. Using data collected from 252 employees in a weekly diary study spanning 8 consecutive work weeks, our findings revealed that employees adapted to emotional exhaustion, as indicated by a negative relationship between previous levels of the construct with its change from 1 week to the next. This change was affected by the level of time pressure in the previous week, resulting in lower adaptive change in emotional exhaustion when time pressure was high, and vice versa. Specifically, time pressure had a positive effect on the change in emotional exhaustion, and emotional exhaustion had a positive effect on the change in time pressure, while the overall adaptive change process prevailed. This study contributes valuable insights into the temporal process of how time pressure relates to emotional exhaustion in a health-impairing manner (e.g., via reduced adaptation). The implications of our findings are discussed from the theoretical perspective of adaptation and resource loss, and potential directions for future research are proposed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).