Lack of Recovery From Work and Changes for the Worse in Working Conditions—The Role of Vitality as a Mediator of Lack of Detachment and Sleeping Problems in a 12-Wave Panel Study

Objective Despite extensive research on occupational stress and impaired recovery, the reverse effects of lack of recovery on work conditions remain largely underexplored. Methods Panel questionnaire data from N = 4,322 Swiss workers were collected annually across 12 years. Lack of detachment, sleeping problems, vitality, and changes in working conditions were analyzed using growth curve models. Results From 2007 to 2019, lack of detachment and sleeping problems increased while vitality and working conditions deteriorated. Vitality predicted the deterioration of working conditions and mediated the detrimental influence of lack of detachment and sleeping problems on working conditions. Conclusions Individuals’ recovery status decreased between 2007–2019, while incomplete recovery antecedes a loss of work design quality. Thus, reversed effects of recovery should be a focus of occupational health promotion.