The Moderating Role of Job Autonomy in the Relationship Between Multitasking and Employee Exhaustion

Ostendorp, Jarno Matteo (2026) The Moderating Role of Job Autonomy in the Relationship Between Multitasking and Employee Exhaustion. Bachelor thesis, Psychology.

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Abstract

Managing multiple tasks simultaneously continues to be of growing importance in modern workspaces. The Job Demands-Resources model is a theoretical framework that facilitates comprehension of this phenomenon. This theoretical perspective postulates that high cognitive demands, such as multitasking demands, deplete cognitive resources, resulting in exhaustion. Job resources, on the other hand, have been shown to buffer against these negative effects. The objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between multitasking and exhaustion, and to discern the moderating effects of job autonomy on this relationship. The data for this study were gathered through an aggregated diary study comprising 105 participants. Contrary to the initial hypotheses, multiple linear regression analysis showed no significant relationship between multitasking and exhaustion. Additionally, the analysis revealed no significant interaction effect of job autonomy. However, the main effect of job autonomy on exhaustion was significant, with higher autonomy leading to lower levels of exhaustion. The results are explained through the lens of JD-R theory, and potential confounding effects of sample characteristics are examined. These findings emphasize the importance of evaluating sample characteristics when examining work demands, and the significance of job autonomy as a critical resource. Keywords: multitasking, job autonomy, exhaustion, Job Demands-Resources model, occupational tenure

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor)
Supervisor name:	Devarakonda, S.K.
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	None [Bachelor Psychology]
Date Deposited:	12 Feb 2026 09:46
Last Modified:	12 Feb 2026 09:46
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/6173

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