1. Introduction
In the work context, the need for recovery is a crucial predictor of relevant outcomes, such as well-being and performance (
Verbeek et al. 2019). However, demands in the workplace, such as long working hours, high work pressure, and unfavourable physical and social environments, can negatively impact work outcomes, individual health, and perceived stress. Therefore, to increase their well-being and performance, employees must recover from job demands and replenish the psychological resources (e.g., energy, direct attention, concentration) they deplete during working hours (
de Vries et al. 2017). Research has widely examined the role of job and personal resources in reducing the negative impact of job demands (for a meta-analysis, see
Mazzetti et al. 2021). However, relatively few studies have examined the role played by the perceived features/properties of the work context. These physical and social properties (i.e., herein restorativeness) can help to restore employees’ resources and reduce stress (
Bellini et al. 2019) through the replenishment of direct attention (
Kaplan 1995). Restorativeness is identified as a resource of the environment able to re-establish specific cognitive capacities, such as attention and concentration (
Hernández et al. 2001). Different studies show that restorativeness plays a crucial role in reducing stress and fatigue at work (
Lee et al. 2018;
Bellini et al. 2019) and improving attentional capacity and physical and psychological health (
Carrus et al. 2015;
Karjalainen et al. 2010). Therefore, examining the role of physical and social features/properties of the work environment in restoring employees’ attention depleted during work is relevant. Although, as we have mentioned, research has given attention to the dynamics between environmental resources and demands and psychosocial outcomes in the work context, such as work stress and well-being, no studies have examined the buffering effect of the environmental quality of the work context between job demands and a specific kind of attention (i.e., herein mindfulness) in the work context. Thus, the novelty of this study is to extend the research on the role of perceived restorativeness in reducing the negative consequences of job demands on mindfulness at work.
Mindfulness is defined as “the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment by moment” (
Kabat-Zinn 2003, p. 145). Research has shown that high levels of mindfulness allow individuals to cope with stress (
Burton et al. 2017). Particularly, mindful people improve their emotional regulation (
Lohani et al. 2020), increase attention (
Hölzel et al. 2011) and the ability to recognize physical sensations (
Good et al. 2016), and reduce the perceived stress in the workplace (
Good et al. 2016;
Ramaci et al. 2020). We adopted the Job Demands–Resources Model (JD–R Model;
Bakker and Demerouti 2014) to examine the relationship between the constructs considered in this study. This model describes the relationship between job/personal resources and positive outcomes. Specifically, the model highlights the buffering effect of job/personal resources between job demands and different psychosocial and work-related outcomes.
In summary, this study investigates the negative effect of either work overload or cognitive demands on mindfulness and the moderating role of restorativeness on work overload and cognitive demands. We add to the existing literature by examining the role played by an environmental job characteristic (resource) of the work environment (i.e., restorativeness) in reducing the negative effect of job demands on a personal resource such as mindfulness on a sample of 204 employees.
4. Results
As reported in
Table 1 and
Table 2, the results of the exploratory factor analyses showed a one-factor structure for work overload and cognitive demands. Restorativeness showed five factors, and mindfulness showed two factors (as shown in
Table 3 and
Table 4, respectively). The values of the items that did not show sufficient reliability or the factors composed by a single item were excluded from the subsequent analyses. Regarding the name of the factors, according to the Art Theory selected items, we named them as follows: fascination, compatibility, extent, and being away. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.78 for restorativeness (fascination), 0.85 for restorativeness (compatibility), 0.53 for being away, and 0.38 for extent.
Cronbach’s alpha was 0.90 for cognitive demands, 0.66 for workload, 0.67 for mindfulness (factor 1), and 0.58 for mindfulness (factor 2). Based on the results of the EFAs, the individuals’ responses were summed to create a composite score for each factor. We then calculated descriptive statistics and bivariate correlations and performed the regression analysis.
The Kaiser–Meier–Olkin (KMO) values were over 0.8 for restorativeness, mindfulness, and cognitive demands and over 0.7 for work overload. The Bartlett Sphericity test results were statistically significant for each variable considered in this study (p < 0.001).
The assumption of normality, multicollinearity, and linearity were respected. Skewness and Kurtosis values ranged from −2 to +2 (see
Table 5). The Mahalanobis distance did not identify multivariate outliers. The higher value of the Mahalanobis distance was 17.90 (chi
2 = 20.51
p < 0.001). The analyses of multivariate normality were checked with Mardia’s test. The square of the Mahalanobis distance was 34.74. This value was lower than Mardia’s index (=35); thus, we assume that the data came from a normal distribution. The Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) ranged from 1.07 to 1.17, indicating that the multicollinearity was not a concern in this study.
The results of the correlations and descriptive statistics are shown in
Table 6. Mindfulness was significantly negatively correlated with cognitive demands and work overload. Restorativeness (fascination) was significantly negatively correlated with work overload and cognitive demands and positively correlated with mindfulness. Restorativeness (compatibility) was significantly negatively correlated with work overload and cognitive demands and positively correlated with mindfulness. Further, referring to the control variables, negative and significant correlations between sectors, compatibility, cognitive demands, and work overload were found.
The EFA shows five factors rather than one factor. The variance extracted by the main factor was 27.298% of the total variance. Thus, the covariation among the variables was not inflated, and the common method bias was not an issue in this study.
The results of the hierarchical regression analysis did not show a significant relationship between gender, sectors, and hours per day worked with mindfulness (F > 0.05). All the control variables did not show a significant effect with mindfulness in the second, third, and fourth models either.
The results showed that cognitive demands were negatively related to mindfulness (F < 0.05) but did not show a negative relationship between work overload and mindfulness (F > 0.05), as reported in
Table 7. Thus, H1 was supported. The findings did not confirm H2.
Moreover, the findings reveal the moderating effect of restorativeness (compatibility) between cognitive demands and mindfulness (β = 0.228, 95% CI = 0.01 to 0.350, t = 2.393, p < 0.001). Specifically, the test of the simple slopes indicated that, when employees perceived low or average levels of restorativeness, cognitive demands negatively affected mindfulness, respectively (β = −0.525, 95% CI = −0.74 to −0.31, t = −4.82, p < 0.001 and β = −0.335, 95% CI = −0.50 to −0.16, t = −3.94, p < 0.001). On the contrary, when employees perceived higher restorativeness, there was a non-significant relationship between cognitive demands and mindfulness (β = −0.14, 95% CI = −0.30 to 0.01, t = 1.76, p = 0.078).
In model 3, the results did not show the moderating effect of restorativeness (compatibility) between work overload and mindfulness (p > 0.05). Further, the results in models 3 and 4 did not confirm the moderating effect of restorativeness (fascination) between work overload, cognitive demands, and mindfulness (p > 0.05). Therefore, the findings supported H3 but did not support H4.
5. Discussion
The current research was conducted to examine and advance the understanding of the role of perceived restorativeness in buffering the negative effect of cognitive demands and work overload on mindfulness. The indirect effect of the characteristics of work environments on mindfulness has not yet received sufficient attention. Aligned with previous studies (
Bellini et al. 2019;
Sumantry and Stewart 2021), cognitive demands negatively affect job/personal resources such as mindfulness (H1). In contrast with our hypothesis, the results did not reveal an association between work overload and mindfulness (H2). Further, as expected, we found the moderating effect of restorativeness between cognitive demands and mindfulness (H3). Specifically, our findings showed that the negative effect of cognitive demands on mindfulness was weaker for those individuals who perceived higher “compatibility”. However, the moderating effect of the “fascination” quality of the workplace was not significant. In addition, counter to our expectations, the moderating effect of restorativeness (i.e., fascination and compatibility) between work overload and mindfulness was not supported (H4). The results of the present research aligned with the JD–R Model (
Bakker and Demerouti 2014,
2017), which highlighted the positive effects of resources on other resources and positive outcomes at work, as confirmed in a recent meta-analysis (
Mazzetti et al. 2021) and with the findings of previous studies that found that restorativeness allows for a reduction in the adverse effect of job demands (
Lee et al. 2018;
Bellini et al. 2019) and improves attentional capacity (
Lin et al. 2019), well-being (
Carrus et al. 2015;
Yusli et al. 2021), health (
Karjalainen et al. 2010), and performance (
Lee et al. 2018). Our findings are relevant for employees who need to replenish the resources depleted during working hours and, in a particular way, to improve mindfulness at work. However, further research should be conducted to strengthen our findings.
Regarding the non-significant effect of work overload on mindfulness compared to the positive effect of cognitive demands on mindfulness, this result may depend on the employees’ perception of the work tasks. Although job demands are generally considered a “hindrance” and commonly associated with adverse outcomes, in some circumstances, they can work as “challenge demands”, which require an effort but can also support personal growth (
Lesener et al. 2018) and be less negatively related with a positive outcome (
Li et al. 2017). Recent studies corroborated this interpretation (
LePine et al. 2005,
2016;
Peikai et al. 2020).
LePine et al. (
2005,
2016) highlighted how challenging stressors can foster personal growth and generate challenging conditions that can help in achieving goals. Similar results were obtained by
Peikai et al. (
2020). However, it would be necessary to verify if our findings can be extended to jobs with low cognitive demands and high physical demands.
Examining the lack of moderation effect of fascination on demands and mindfulness, we observe that the items of this sub-dimension of perceived restorativeness refer to a “form of distraction” (e.g., there is a great deal of distraction) and may not be able to promote attention.
6. Conclusions and Practical Implications
Employees are exposed to many job demands, which can have negative consequences on work performance and well-being. This study suggests that the quality of the environment (being in a place compatible with individual differences) can alleviate these negative consequences. Thus, this study addressed the protective role of the perceived work environment, specifically restorativeness. In addition, our findings suggest exploring and understanding the work features compatible with individual differences.
Furthermore, this study expands on the previous research and shows that an environmental resource of the work environment, such as restorativeness and its properties, has a crucial role in reducing the negative impact of cognitive demands on mindfulness. This result may have relevant and practical implications for employees, employers, and human resource managers. Notably, they might observe which features of the physical work context offer a supportive restorative experience, helping individuals maintain their focus on the work tasks. These properties relate to “compatibility” and allow employees to get to “know the place better” and feel that the workplace “suits their personality” and goals. This information can be used to emphasize the crucial role and benefit of the work environment in restoring attention and building workplace programs and policies.
Finally, the results shed light on the importance of allowing employees to choose where they work. Working remotely can help individuals feel “home”. In an interesting research study,
Pasini et al. (
2021) pointed out that built spaces can be restorative environments with effects on well-being similar to those generated by natural environments. This positive effect can be achieved through a participatory interior design process that involves employees. Lastly, in a systematic review,
Gritzka et al. (
2020) point out that nature-based workplace interventions can promote health.
Theodorou et al. (
2023) demonstrated the effectiveness of virtual natural environments in improving subjective vitality through restoration with possible applications to the workplace.
Limitations and Future Research
Although the results consistently support the study hypotheses, some limitations exist in this research and should be considered. First, we applied a cross-sectional design that precludes the possibility of ensuring a causal relationship between measures. Regarding this last point, future longitudinal design studies are needed to analyse the changes throughout working time and to make inferences regarding the association between restorativeness and other job and personal resources and job demands.
Second, the self-reported measurement method can be influenced by the common method bias and related social desirability. Third, we did not examine the possible effects of other job resources/personal resources interaction with restorativeness on other outcomes or its possible mediating effect on the relationship between job demands and mindfulness. Finally, this study was conducted with a small sample of convenience made up of Italian employees. The participants were selected by the researchers within their network. Therefore, it is not guaranteed that every employee in the entire population could be involved in the research. Future research should extend the sample population to other countries to generalize the results.
Finally, further studies should investigate which specific elements of the physical work context can restore job resources. A specific questionnaire to identify the environmental quality of the work context should be developed. The instrument’s questions could be developed for job and/or specific work sectors.