{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T05:00:24Z","timestamp":1785387624084,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,28]],"date-time":"2026-07-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785196800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health","IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Work-related stress and difficulties in managing the work\u2013life interface represent significant challenges for psychological well-being. While research has increasingly examined coping and recovery processes, less attention has been paid to the role of nature-based leisure activities in supporting these dynamics. This qualitative study explores how adult workers who regularly practice surfing use this activity to cope with work-related stress and how it relates to the development of personal resources and the work\u2013life interface. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 Italian workers, and the data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Three main themes emerged. First, surfing was described as a coping strategy that supports emotional regulation, psychological detachment from work, and recovery, particularly through immersion in a natural environment. Second, participants reported that experiences developed in surfing, such as managing uncertainty, risk, and decision making, were transferable to the work context. Third, surfing played a complex role in the work\u2013life interface, contributing to balance but also generating time-based tensions when not adequately integrated into daily routines. Overall, the findings highlight the active role of individuals in using extra-work activities as resources for coping and recovery and underline the importance of considering nature-based experiences within broader models of occupational well-being and work\u2013life dynamics.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph23080979","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,28]],"date-time":"2026-07-28T15:57:28Z","timestamp":1785254248000},"page":"979","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Surfing Across Life Domains: A Qualitative Study on the Role of Leisure Activities in Occupational Well-Being"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"23","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4519-8594","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cataldo Giuliano","family":"Gemmano","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari \u201cAldo Moro\u201d, 70121 Bari, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mirko Pio","family":"Petruzzelli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari \u201cAldo Moro\u201d, 70121 Bari, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5308-7494","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Amelia","family":"Manuti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari \u201cAldo Moro\u201d, 70121 Bari, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"273","DOI":"10.1037\/ocp0000056","article-title":"Job Demands-Resources Theory: Taking Stock and Looking Forward","volume":"22","author":"Bakker","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. 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