Psychological detachment and research performance: Work engagement as a mediator

We examined the mediating role of work engagement in the relationship between psychological detachment and research performance using structural equation modeling and bootstrapping analysis. Participants comprised 923 teachers from 39 key universities in China, who completed measures of psychological detachment, research performance, and work engagement. The results indicated that psychological detachment was negatively associated with research performance, and that work engagement mediated this relationship. Our findings enrich understanding of the effects of psychological detachment on research performance. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.