“Take a break!”: the role of off-job detachment in the relation between demands and work performance in elite athletes

This study investigated the role of detachment from sports in the relation between sport-related “job” demands and performance-related outcomes of elite athletes (i.e., cognitive liveliness, physical strength, task performance, and sustainable performance). Drawing on cross-sectional survey data from 191 Chinese elite handball players, regression analyses revealed that detachment mediated and moderated the associations between specific demands and performance-related outcomes. Specifically, physical detachment partly mediated the relations between mental demands and performance-related outcomes. Furthermore, high mental detachment weakened the positive associations between mental demands and successively cognitive liveliness, physical strength, and task performance. In addition, high physical detachment strengthened the associations between physical demands and task performance and sustainable performance. These findings demonstrate that elite athletes should physically disengage themselves from the demands of their sports to restabilize their psychophysiological levels and optimize their work performance. However, retaining a mental connection with their sport-related tasks or activities is recommended, allowing them to stay focused, motivated, and competitive. Finally, theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.