Relationship between daily work connectivity behavior after hours and work–leisure conflict: Role of psychological detachment and segmentation preference

Work-leisure conflict (WLC) can have a series of negative effects on individuals. Against the backdrop of the rapid development of communication equipment, does individuals' use of communication equipment to handle work during nonworking hours lead to WLC? Previous studies have failed to discuss this relationship. Therefore, based on boundary theory, this study explored the possible effect of work connectivity behavior after hours (WCBAH) on WLC as well as the roles played by psychological detachment and individual segmentation preferences in this relationship. In this study, 82 employees were investigated via daily diary research for a period of 5 continuous working days, and a multilevel model was developed. The results indicated that daily WCBAH is positively related to WLC and that psychological detachment plays a mediating role in this relationship. Individual segmentation preferences can significantly moderate not only the relationship between WCBAH and psychological detachment but also the indirect effect of WCBAH on WLC via psychological detachment. This study increases our understanding of boundary theory and provides management suggestions regarding ways of reducing WLC.