Buecker, S., Belz, J., & Brink, K. (2025). Fueling the fire: Exploring the interplay of exhaustion, passion for work, and physical activity among scientists. European Journal of Health Psychology, 32(1), 23–33. https://doi.org/10.1027/2512-8442/a000166

Key Takeaways

Focus: This study explores the relationships between exhaustion, passion for work, and physical activity (PA) among German-speaking scientists.
Aims: The study aims to investigate how passion for work and physical activity (both enjoyment and time spent) relate to exhaustion in scientists. It also examines the impact of working overtime on exhaustion levels.
Key Findings: Harmonious passion for work and enjoyment of PA were found to protect against exhaustion in scientists, while working overtime increased exhaustion. Time spent on PA had a weaker link to lower exhaustion.
Implications: The findings suggest that organizations and policymakers could implement strategies promoting harmonious passion and enjoyable physical activity to reduce exhaustion and improve well-being among scientists.

Rationale

Exhaustion is a pervasive issue in today’s workplace, particularly prevalent in scientific professions (Jankowiak et al., 2020).

This has significant personal and organizational consequences, making it crucial to understand the factors that contribute to exhaustion and identify potential protective measures.

Previous research suggests that passion for work and physical activity (PA) can influence well-being and stress levels (Philippe et al., 2016; Yukhymenko-Lescroart & Sharma, 2019).

This study builds on these findings by exploring the interplay of passion, PA, and exhaustion specifically within the scientific community.

The study aims to answer the following questions:

How does passion for work, both harmonious and obsessive, relate to exhaustion in scientists?
What is the relationship between PA (considering both enjoyment and time spent) and exhaustion?
How does working overtime impact exhaustion levels in this population?

By addressing these questions, this research aims to provide valuable insights for developing targeted interventions to reduce exhaustion and promote well-being among scientists.

The findings could inform organizational strategies and policies aimed at fostering a healthier and more sustainable work environment for this high-risk group.

Method

This study used a cross-sectional survey design.

Participants were asked to complete an online questionnaire that included measures of passion for work, physical activity levels, exhaustion, and demographic information.

Correlation and regression analyses were then conducted to examine the relationships between these variables.

Procedure:

Participants completed an online survey consisting of questionnaires assessing passion for work, PA levels, exhaustion, and demographic information.
Correlation and regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between the variables.

Sample:

N = 769 German-speaking scientists
69.7% female, 29.8% male, 0.5% diverse
Mean age: 37.7 years (SD = 11.7)
52.8% employed at universities, 24.6% at research institutions, 22.6% in other settings

Measures:

Passion for Work: Measured using the Passion Scale (Vallerand et al., 2003), assessing harmonious and obsessive passion.
Physical Activity: Assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ; Craig et al., 2003), measuring time spent and enjoyment of PA.
Exhaustion: Measured using the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI; Demerouti et al., 2003), capturing exhaustion and disengagement dimensions.

Statistical Measures:

Pearson correlation tests were used to examine the bivariate relationships between the variables.
Multiple regression analyses were conducted to explore the unique contribution of each predictor to exhaustion.

Results

Hypotheses:

H1: Harmonious passion for work is negatively associated with exhaustion.
H2: Obsessive passion for work is positively associated with exhaustion.
H3: Enjoyment of PA is negatively associated with exhaustion.
H4: Time spent on PA is negatively associated with exhaustion.
H5: Working overtime is positively associated with exhaustion.

Summary of Results:

H1: Supported. Harmonious passion was significantly negatively correlated with exhaustion, meaning those with higher harmonious passion experienced lower exhaustion.
H2: Not supported. No significant association was found between obsessive passion and exhaustion.
H3: Supported. Enjoyment of PA was significantly negatively correlated with exhaustion, indicating that those who enjoyed PA more experienced less exhaustion.
H4: Partially supported. Time spent on PA showed a weak negative correlation with exhaustion, suggesting a slight link between more time spent on PA and lower exhaustion.
H5: Supported. Working overtime was significantly positively correlated with exhaustion, meaning those who worked overtime experienced higher levels of exhaustion.

Insight:

This study reveals that scientists who are passionate about their work in a healthy way experience less exhaustion.

Enjoying physical activity, rather than just the amount of time spent exercising, is also linked to lower exhaustion.

These findings are important because they highlight specific factors that can protect scientists from exhaustion. This goes beyond previous research by showing that not all passion is equal – it needs to be the kind that brings joy, not obsession, to be beneficial.

It also refines our understanding of how exercise helps; feeling good while being active matters more than just clocking in hours at the gym.

Future studies could explore how to promote this healthy passion in scientists. Perhaps mentoring programs or workshops on work-life balance could help.

Implications

For Practitioners (e.g., managers, supervisors, HR professionals):

Cultivate a sense of community and collaboration, where scientists feel connected to a shared purpose and supported by their colleagues.
Offer access to on-site fitness facilities or subsidize gym memberships, making physical activity more convenient.
Implement workload management strategies to ensure reasonable working hours and prevent excessive overtime.
Promote a culture that values work-life balance and discourages overwork.

Strengths:

Large sample size
Comprehensive assessment of passion for work, PA, and exhaustion
Consideration of both enjoyment and time spent on PA

Limitations:

Cross-sectional design limits causal inferences
Self-reported data may be subject to bias
Focus on German-speaking scientists may limit generalizability

References