The objective of this paper was to study the change of well-being associated with vacation and the effect of vacation related variables on these changes. Fifty-three employees (16 women, 37 men) of a medium sized aluminium hardware manufacturer in Austria participated. Measures were taken 10 days before and 3 days after vacation. A small follow-up group at 5 weeks post-vacation was included. Three days after vacation, physical complaints, the quality of sleep and mood had improved as compared to before vacation. Average life satisfaction did not change during vacation. Five weeks after vacation subjects still reported less physical complaints than before vacation. The experienced recuperation during vacation explained 56% of the variance regarding the change of well-being. Moderating variables of recuperation were the amount of personally available time and vacation satisfaction. Furthermore, the number of stressful days at home were associated negatively, while the number of non-stressful days at home and the number of days away from home correlated moderately positively with recuperation. The study indicates that vacation may improve well-being on a short term basis.

Research is scarce on ways to enhance the effect of rest breaks during mentally demanding tasks. The present study investigated the effectiveness of two rest‐break interventions on well‐being during an academic lecture. Sixty‐six students (53 females, mean age 22.5 years) enrolled in two different university classes of 4‐hr duration participated in the study. Two measures of well‐being (fatigue and vigor) were assessed immediately before, after, and 20 minutes after the break. A control condition without a break as well as an unstructured break was compared with breaks either encompassing physical activity or a relaxation exercise. Compared with the nonbreak condition, the unstructured rest break led to an increase in vigor, the exercise break as well as the relaxation break both to an increase in vigor and a decrease in fatigue at 20‐min post break. Compared with the unstructured break, exercise led to an (additional) increase in vigor and relaxation to an (additional) decrease in fatigue at 20‐min post break. Thus, the effects of rest breaks during mentally demanding tasks can be enhanced by engaging in physical activity or relaxation exercises, with effects lasting at least as long as 20 min into the continuation of the task.

Vacation has recently become a topic of interest in health research as both beneficial and adverse health effects have been documented. The present study was aimed at identifying vacation characteristics predicting health-related vacation outcome. One hundred ninety-one predominantly white-collar employees (109 female, 82 males; mean age 37.8 yr, range 16-62 yr) received a questionnaire in the week after vacation assessing subject characteristics, physical vacation characteristics, the individual structuring of the day, health and social behavior, and stress during vacation as well as the perceived change of recuperation and exhaustion from before to after a vacation. Regression analysis was used to identify variables predicting vacation outcome. Twenty-seven percent of the variance of the change of recuperation and 15% of the change of exhaustion could be explained. Recuperation was facilitated by free time for one's self, warmer (and sunnier) vacation locations, exercise during vacation, good sleep, and making new acquaintances, especially among vacationers reporting higher levels of prevacation work strain. Exhaustion was increased by vacation-related health problems and a greater time-zone difference to home, and was reduced by warmer vacation locations. Health-related vacation outcome is significantly affected by the way an individual organizes his or her vacation.

The present study investigated the changes of quality of life, mood, and the tumor marker CA 15-3 associated with a 3-week inpatient breast cancer rehabilitation program incorporating spa therapy. One hundred forty-nine women, 32 to 82 years, participated in the study 3 to 72 months after breast cancer surgery. Quality of life (QoL, EORTC QLQ-C30), anxiety, and depression (HADS) were measured 2 weeks before, at the end, and 6 months after rehabilitation; CA 15-3 at the beginning, end, and at 6 months follow-up. Patients received an individualized rehabilitation program incorporating manual lymph drainage, exercise therapy, massages, psychological counseling, relaxation training, carbon dioxide baths, and mud packs. Quality of life and mood improved significantly, the greatest short-term improvements found for mood-related aspects of quality of life, the most lasting improvements found for physical complaints (eg, fatigue). Also, the tumor marker CA 15-3 declined significantly to follow-up. Patient characteristics, as well as the time since surgery, moderated rehabilitation outcome to a limited extent. Older patients, nonobese patients, patients with a greater lymphedema, and patients with an active coping style showed slightly greater improvements. Hot mud packs inducing hyperthermia did not affect CA 15-3. In conclusion, the combination of inpatient rehabilitation with spa therapy provides a promising approach for breast cancer rehabilitation.