Keywords

Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Nature Breaks, Latent Profiles, Individual Differences, Regulatory Focus, Employee Stress Recovery

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore how individual differences influence employee

perceptions of nature breaks at work. While nature provides restorative benefits to employees such

as reduced fatigue and feelings of recovery and awe, individual differences may impact the fit

between an employee and nature as a desirable work break location. We adopted a person-centered

approach and conducted a Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) using the indicators of nature

connectedness, regulatory focus, uncertainty intolerance, and openness to experience. Results

supported the emergence of four distinct profiles: break under-regulating nature adventurers,

nature-adverse break-takers, nature-loving break self-regulators, and reserved nature-neutral

break-takers. Profile membership predicted preferences for an office versus nature work break

location and perceptions of whether nature breaks are expected to be relaxing, comfortable, and

awe-inspiring. This study contributes to occupational health psychology literature by providing

insight into the influence that individual differences comprising nature-break fit profiles have on

employee perceptions of recovery in nature settings.

Completion Date

2025

Semester

Summer

Committee Chair

Chelsea LeNoble

Degree

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Psychology

Format

PDF

Identifier

DP0029607

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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