Working longer and more intensively to get the work done: the unintended effect of self-endangerment on quantitative stressors

Working longer and more intensively are termed self-endangering work behaviours and are known to be related to adverse health consequences. However, in the face of high quantitative stressors, they may be effective (although resource intensive) strategies to deal with stressful situations. In a daily diary study over five consecutive workdays (N = 110), and a weekly diary study over five consecutive work weeks (N = 308), we examined whether working longer and more intensively are indeed effective in reducing stressors at work. Results from dynamic structural equation models showed that working longer and more intensively increase, rather than decrease, unfinished tasks and time pressure over time. In most cases, this effect was buffered by the extent to which these coping strategies are used variably over the course of days or weeks. Thus, self-endangering work behaviours may not only be maladaptive in terms of health impairment but also ineffective in reducing the stressors.