Are business trips a unique kind of respite?

Abstract

In this chapter, we discuss the impact of business trips on travelers and their families from the perspective of respite, thus embedding business trips in stress theories. We begin by reviewing the literature on respite and recovery. Focusing on the role of travelers’ resources, we relate the phenomenon of business trips to conservation of resources (COR) and job demands-resource (JD-R) theories. We then discuss the negative and positive characteristics and outcomes of business trips. We offer evidence from interviews with business travelers regarding the special characteristics and consequences of business trips. We summarize by addressing the question of whether business trips are a special kind of respite.

Citation

Westman, M., Etzion, D. and Chen, S. (2009), "Are business trips a unique kind of respite?", Sonnentag, S., Perrewé, P.L. and Ganster, D.C. (Ed.) Current Perspectives on Job-Stress Recovery (Research in Occupational Stress and Well Being, Vol. 7), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 167-204. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-3555(2009)0000007008