Understanding the detachment–strain relationship: a two-wave mediational model

Background: Healthcare professionals are highly exposed to work-related stressors, which increases their vulnerability to exhaustion, a key dimension of burnout. Psychological detachment, defined as the ability to mentally disengage from work during off-job time, has been identified as a key recovery mechanism. However, the processes linking detachment to exhaustion over time remain underexplored. Methods: This study integrated the Conservation of Resources theory and the Stressor–Recovery Model to test a two-wave longitudinal model, in which negative work–home spillover mediates the relationship between psychological detachment and exhaustion. The reverse pathways were also examined. Data were collected from 258 healthcare professionals at an Italian hospital, who completed self-report questionnaires at two time points over a two-year period. Structural equation modeling was employed to test the hypothesized relationships. Results: Psychological detachment at Time 1 predicted lower spillover at Time 2, which in turn was associated with lower exhaustion, supporting a full mediation model. Additionally, spillover at Time 1 negatively predicted detachment at Time 2, suggesting the existence of a potential loss cycle, while reverse effects from exhaustion to spillover or detachment were not supported. Conclusions: These findings highlight the crucial role of psychological detachment in preventing long-term exhaustion among healthcare professionals by reducing work–home spillover, providing valuable insights for interventions that promote recovery processes.