The Impact of Isolation on Employee Well-Being: a Daily Diary Investigation

Drawing on affective events theory, we propose that work-related isolation can affect employee well-being (i.e., high engagement and low emotional exhaustion) through positive affect. In addition, building on conservation of resources theory we examine the moderating role of self-efficacy. Hypotheses were tested using a daily diary methodology. Study variables were captured in a daily questionnaire during ten consecutive working days. The sample consists of 44 employees from whom we obtained 333 daily observations. Multilevel path analysis revealed that isolation was negatively related to positive affect. Furthermore, positive affect was significantly related to employee well-being. Moreover, we established significant indirect effects from isolation to work engagement and emotional exhaustion through positive affect. These results hold for both the within-level and between-level. In addition, the indirect effects were moderated by self-efficacy for both work engagement and emotional exhaustion at the between-level. The study results demonstrate the importance of self-efficacy in preventing decrease in positive affect under the condition of isolation and emphasize the need to safeguard the individuals with low self-efficacy whose well-being might be in greater jeopardy.