The upside of downtime: An interpretative phenomenological analysis on recovery experience during discretionary time in men’s professional tennis tour

Recovery, defined as the restoration process of physiological and psychological resources for functional readiness, is associated with individual’s motivation and performance at workplace, and well-being (Demerouti, Bakker, Geurts, & Taris, 2009; Sonnentag, 2001; Sonnentag & Natter, 2004). Despite the implications for athletic performance, the socio-psychological aspects of recovery, particularly during discretionary time, has been neglected in kinesiology research. Drawing on the literature of recovery-stress balance (Kallus & Kellmann, 2000; Kellmann, 2002) and daily recovery from work-related stressors during non-work time (Sonnentag & Binnewies, 2013; Sonnentag & Kuhnel, 2016), this study examined the significance of recovery experience during discretionary time in the men’s professional tennis tour. Interviews and personal conversations with former and current male athletes competed in the professional tennis tour were analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) to understand the recovery experience during discretionary time and its underlying psychological pathways. Analysis of data discovered discretionary time activities associated with recovery from organizational stresses as well as its psychological mechanisms in the men’s professional tennis tour.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Kinesiology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2019

Author dc:creator

• Chung, Hyondo

Contributors dc:contributor

• Woods, Amy
• Sydnor, Synthia
• Gill, Diane
• Chiu, Chung-Yi
• Zhu, Weimo

• recovery, psychological detachment, mastery, performance, quality of life, tennis, professional tennis

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2018 Hyondo Chung

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/102489

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/102489