It’s the Little Things in Life: An Examination of Hassles, Mindfulness, and Counterproductive Behaviors

Abstract

Despite longstanding interest in the work-life interplay, little research exists exploring the role of non-work/non-family related stressors (i.e., hassles) on work processes and how individuals may cope with such stressors. In this paper, we test the effects of hassles on counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs). Drawing on the work-home resources model, we propose that the experience of hassles contributes to higher levels of CWBs by depleting energetic resources which leads to emotional exhaustion. Further, we suggest that mindfulness serves as a protective resource that can buffer against engagement in CWBs associated with exhaustion. We employ three studies—first a pilot study using an experience sampling method design ( N = 205) to explore within-person variation in the proposed relationships. We next conduct a construct validation study of the non-work/non-family hassles construct ( N = 293), and then utilize this validated scale in our third study which was a time-lagged, between-person study ( N = 161). Analyses generally support our predictions that the indirect effect of hassles on CWBs through emotional exhaustion is contingent on mindfulness such that it is stronger when individuals are less mindful. Together, these findings suggest that individuals who experience more hassles feel higher levels of exhaustion, making them more susceptible to engaging in negative behaviors at work. Higher levels of mindfulness, however, play a protective role in deterring individuals from acting out their negative feelings in counterproductive ways.