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Disengagement in work-role transitions
Article first published online: 24 DEC 2010
DOI: 10.1348/096317909X470717
2010 The British Psychological Society
Issue
2044-8325/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=f9df91eb93b2222f19ae5ec1215ca66540301b37 "Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology")
Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology
Volume 83, Issue 3, pages 695–715, September 2010
Additional Information
How to Cite
Niessen, C., Binnewies, C. and Rank, J. (2010), Disengagement in work-role transitions. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 83: 695–715. doi: 10.1348/096317909X470717
Publication History
- Issue published online: 24 DEC 2010
- Article first published online: 24 DEC 2010
- Received 17 December 2008; revised version received 20 July 2009
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
The present study examines whether disengagement from previous work-roles positively predicts adaptation to a new work-role (here, becoming self-employed) by reducing negative consequences of psychological attachment to these previous roles. Disengagement involves an individual's effort to release attention from thoughts and behaviours related to the previous work-role. A three-wave longitudinal study investigated the relationship between psychological attachment (measured as affective commitment) to a prior work-role, disengagement from the prior work-role, and adaptation to a new work-role [pursuit of learning, fit perceptions with self-employment, task performance over time]. Participants included 131 persons who recently founded a small business. Results indicated that psychological attachment to the past work-role was negatively related to pursuit of learning and fit with the new work-role. Disengagement from the past work-role was positively related to pursuit of learning in the new work-role, and buffered the negative relationship between psychological attachment and fit as well as task performance.