Getting Better to Feel Better: How Gaming Affects Recovery and Vigor

The current study investigated the mediated relationship between playing video games after work and its effects on the recovery experiences of psychological detachment, relaxation, mastery experiences, and consequently their effects on vigor. Vigor was used as a well-being indicator as it shows an increase in energy, as opposed to fatigue which shows a decrease in energy. Employees (N=70) completed daily diary surveys over the course of two weeks. Aside from the study variables, the control variables included were the employees’ daily number of hours worked, number of hours slept, and quality of sleep. Multi-level regressions analyses showed a significant mediated relationship between numbers of hours gamed and vigor via mastery experiences. Contrary to the hypotheses, psychological detachment and relaxation did not show a mediated relationship between gaming and vigor. The current findings highlight the unique pathways that different recovery experiences can enhance employees’ well-being.