Cell phones during nonwork time: A source of job demands and resources

•Extends the job demands-resources model to examine effects of cell phone use for work.•We conceptualize cell phone attachment as a resource.•Cell phone attachment minimizes negative effects of work-related cell phone use.•Work engagement is enhanced by being more attached to cell phones.

Technology (e.g., cell phones) is increasingly blurring the lines between the work and nonwork domains. Evidence suggests technology users experience both negative and positive outcomes associated with work-related technology use during nonwork hours. We extended the job demands-resources model (Demerouti, Bakker, Nachreiner, & Schaufeli, 2001) to technology use by conceptualizing work-related cell phone (WRCP) use as a job demand and cell phone attachment –valuing and being physically attached to a cell phone– as a resource. We expected high cell phone attachment will buffer against the negative effects of WRCP use on emotional exhaustion, work engagement, and work-family conflict. Participants from various occupations (N = 313) responded to two online surveys administered one week apart. Cell phone use and attachment were assessed at Time 1; criteria were assessed at Time 2. High cell phone attachment buffered against the negative effects of WRCP use on emotional exhaustion and work-family conflict, and it enhanced the beneficial effects of WRCP use on work engagement. Being more engaged and attached to cell phones may help employees deal with WRCP use during nonwork time more effectively. Practical implications include providing training for more effective cell phone use during nonwork time.