Work-related Rumination Research Articles

Need satisfaction matters: The role of need satisfaction at work in work-related rumination

AbstractThe aim of this study is twofold. First, it evaluates the psychometric properties of the Czech adaptation of the Work-Related Rumination Questionnaire (WRRQ) and Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale-Work Domain (BPNSFS-W). Second, the link between work-related rumination and work-related need satisfaction was examined. Three forms of work-related rumination, namely, affective rumination, pondering, and detachment were hypothesized to have distinct associations with the satisfaction of autonomy, competence, and relatedness needs at work. There were 278 employees (67% female, Mage= 40.22, SD = 12.98) completing an online survey. CFA confirmed the three-factor model of both WRRQ and BPNSFS-W. Moreover, the measurement invariance of both scales was investigated across gender. The BPNSFS-W has measurement invariance, and WRRQ has partial measurement invariance across females and males. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that while competence did not predict any form of WRR, relatedness positively predicted detachment. Moreover, autonomy positively predicted pondering and negatively predicted affective rumination. Findings suggest that the WRRQ and BPNSFS-W are promising instruments for future research and practice in the Czech context.

The effect of acceptance and commitment therapy on work-related rumination and job fatigue of medical emergency and accident management center staff: an experimental study

BackgroundWorking in accident management centers and medical emergencies makes employees face psychological tensions and leads to a decrease in their work quality and endangering the lives of patients. Therefore, any solution to reduce their tension will be valuable. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of acceptance and commitment-based therapy (ACT) on work-related rumination and job fatigue among the employees of the Emergency and Medical Accident Management Center of Alborz Province, Iran.MethodsThis study is an experimental research with intervention and control groups conducted between January 16, 2019, and July 8, 2019. Sixty-four employees were selected based on the entry criteria and randomly assigned to two groups. People in the intervention group participated in 8 sessions of 2-hour therapy based on acceptance and commitment. Questionnaires for demographic information, work-related rumination, and occupational recovery/exhaustion were used to collect data. The intervention was conducted with univariate and multivariate covariance analysis.ResultsThe findings showed that the average job fatigue reached 16.78\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\:\\pm\\:$$\\end{document} 11.44 from 37.06 ± 16.70 in the pre-test with a decrease of 20.28 points. Also, the average of all rumination dimensions related to work decreased in the post-test. The findings showed that the effectiveness of treatment based on acceptance and commitment therapy was confirmed on job fatigue and all its components and all dimensions of work-related rumination (p < 0.05). The partial eta square index was greater than 0.14 in all cases and showed the significant effectiveness of the intervention on all components of work-related rumination and job fatigue.ConclusionTreatment based on acceptance and commitment reduced rumination and job fatigue. It is recommended to practice this intervention to improve personnel’s mental health and the quality of services provided to patients.Clinical trial numberNot applicable.

Workplace Violence and Worker Well-Being: A Preliminary Cross-Sectional Study.

To investigate the prevalence of workplace violence (WPV) in home health care and long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and explore the relationship between WPV and worker well-being. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with health care workers in an agency that provided care in homes or LTCFs. Six measures of worker well-being were collected: satisfaction with work and life, work-related rumination, work/family conflict, burnout, and turnover intention. Surveys also assessed type and frequency of WPV. Seventeen participants completed surveys. Verbal abuse by patients was the most often experienced type of WPV. Employees who reported experiencing WPV had higher burnout and lower satisfaction with work and life. WPV routinely occurs in home health care and LTCFs and appears to be related to worker well-being. Facility managers who can control WPV will likely impact the well-being of employees. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50(11), 44-52.].

Work-related stress and sleep quality—the mediating role of rumination: a longitudinal analysis

Abstract Objective This study investigates the mediating role of rumination in the relationship between work-related stress and sleep quality. Sleep quality is a critical component of mental health and wellbeing. Work-related stress is a potential risk factor for poor sleep quality, and this research focuses on how the constructs of rumination—affective rumination, detachment, and problem-solving rumination—may mediate this association. Methods Data from the Dresden Burnout Study were analyzed cross-sectionally and longitudinally over three timepoints. The sample included 360 full- and parttime employees. Work-related stress was assessed using the effort–reward Imbalance Questionnaire, sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and rumination using the Work-Related Rumination Questionnaire. Results The study found that work-related stress was positively correlated with reduced sleep quality, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. In addition, work-related stress predicted increased levels of affective rumination and detachment but not of problem-solving rumination. Affective rumination and detachment partially mediated the relationship between work-related stress and sleep quality, suggesting that individuals who experience higher levels of work-related stress are more likely to engage in ruminative thoughts about their work experiences, which, in turn, leads to reduced sleep quality. Conclusion These findings highlight the importance of considering cognitive processes such as rumination when addressing sleep disturbance related to work stress. Future research should include objective measures of sleep quality and consider shorter intervals to capture immediate changes in stress and sleep patterns. By addressing these factors, healthcare professionals can better support those suffering from sleep disturbance due to work-related stress. Ultimately, this may have a positive impact on their overall wellbeing and productivity at work.

Impacts of work-related rumination on employee’s innovative performance: based on the conservation of resources theory

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the double-edged sword effects of work-related rumination on employees’ innovative performance. Drawing upon Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, this study developed a model to reveal the mechanism through which work-related rumination affects employees’ innovative performance.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from a sample of employees and their managers at an information technology services firm in China. A two-wave data collection method with a one-month interval was employed. The analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling on 482 paired manager-subordinate responses.FindingsOur findings highlight the complex interplay between work-related rumination and innovative performance. Specifically, affective rumination was found to detract from employees’ innovative performance, whereas problem-solving pondering had a positive effect. Notably, creative self-efficacy emerged as a key mediator in these relationships. Furthermore, employees’ perceived organizational support moderated the impact of rumination on creative self-efficacy and, consequently, on innovative performance, buffering the negative effects of affective rumination and enhancing the positive effects of problem-solving pondering.Originality/valueFirstly, it enriches the existing literature on work-related rumination by exploring its nuanced influence on employees’ innovative performance. Secondly, it illuminates the underlying mechanism through which work-related rumination affects innovative performance, mediated by creative self-efficacy. Lastly, it highlights the crucial role of perceived organizational support in moderating these relationships, offering valuable insights for practitioners seeking to foster a more innovative work environment.

The relationships between recovery and teachers' exhaustion and performance: mediational role of work-related self-efficacy

The aim of the study was to better understand the process through which recovery leads to teachers' exhaustion and performance. The direct and the indirect, i.e., mediated by teacher' work-related self-efficacy, effects of recovery on exhaustion and job performance were measured. To assessment of recovery, the Polish version of the Work-Related Rumination Scale (W-RRS) was developed. It measures detachment, affective rumination and problem-solving pondering. The psychometric properties of this tool constitute an additional contribution to the article. The study was conducted among a group of primary and secondary school teachers (N = 503). The factor structure of the W-RRS scale was checked using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), its reliability by using of Cronbach's α measure, and its theoretical validity by means of correlation of main variables with criterion variables. Hypotheses related to direct and mediation effects were verified using structural equation modeling (SEM). The obtained results confirmed the criterion and construct validity and reliability of the W-RRS. It has been also shown that detachment is directly negatively associated with exhaustion (but not with performance), affective rumination is a predictor of higher exhaustion and lower job performance, and problem-solving pondering is related to job performance (but not to exhaustion). Self-efficacy mediates the effect of 2 (out of the 3) types of recovery on exhaustion and job performance, such that high levels of problem-solving pondering and low levels of affective rumination translate into high self-efficacy, which in turn leads to lower exhaustion and higher job performance. The recovery methods have various implications for functioning of teachers. While detachment and problem-solving pondering seem to promote it, affective rumination intensifies exhaustion and reduces performance. The mediator of the recovery-psychological well-being relationship is self-efficacy. The W-RRS questionnaire can be used to assessment of rumination among teachers. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2024;75(2):143-158.

The Relationship Between Attitudes Toward Death, Rumination, and Psychological Resilience of Oncology Nurses

The study aimed to examine the relationship between attitudes toward death, rumination, and psychological resilience of oncology nurses. The study design was cross-sectional. Data were collected from 118 oncology nurses using the Demographic Data Form, Work-Related Rumination Scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale Short Form, and Death Attitude Profile-Revised Scale. For data analysis, correlation and regression analyses were performed. The study findings showed that oncology nurses` work related rumination score was moderate, while psychological resilience score was severely high. More than two-thirds of the work-related ruminations of oncology nurses were explained by psychological resilience and attitudes toward death. Even though there is a negative correlation between negative attitudes toward death and psychological resilience, the acceptance of death scores showed positive relations with psychological resilience. Nurses with positive attitudes toward death can also develop psychological resilience and experience fewer work-related ruminations. This result reveals the necessity of determining oncology nurses' attitudes toward death in order to protect their psychological resilience and reduce work-related ruminations. It is also evident that the results are valuable in presenting how nurses' work-related ruminations relate to psychological resilience and attitudes toward death. Nurses are the main care providers in oncology settings, and they are witnessing the suffering process of their patients and experiencing the loss of their patients. These challenges bring work-related ruminations that lower the psychological resilience of nurses and affect attitudes toward death. Therefore, nurses can build an awareness of their ruminations and develop coping skills with intrusive ruminations.

A longitudinal person-centered investigation of the multidimensional nature of employees’ perceptions of challenge and hindrance demands at work

ABSTRACT Background and Objectives: This research relies on a combination of variable- and person-centered approaches to help improve our understanding of the dimensionality of job demands by jointly considering employees' global levels of job demands, exposure and their specific levels of exposure to challenge and hindrance demands. Design and Methods: We relied on a sample of 442 workers who completed a questionnaire twice over three months. Our analyses sought to identify the nature of the job demands profiles experienced by these workers, to document the stability of these profiles over time, and to assess their associations with theoretically-relevant outcomes (i.e., work engagement, job boredom, problem-solving pondering, work-related rumination, proactive health behaviors, and sleep quality and quantity). Furthermore, we examined whether these profiles and associations differed as a function of working remotely or onsite. Results: Five profiles were identified and found to be highly stable over time: Globally Exposed, Not Exposed, Not Exposed but Challenged, Exposed but Not Challenged, and Mixed. These profiles shared clear associations with all outcomes, with the most adaptive outcomes associated with the Exposed but Not Challenged profile, whereas the most detrimental ones were observed in the Mixed profile. However, none of these results differed across employees working onsite and those working remotely. Conclusions: These findings have theoretical and practical implications regarding the effects of work characteristics on employees' functioning.

How does abusive supervision differentiation affect employee work-family conflict? A moderated chain mediation model

PurposeThis study aims to explore the mechanism of abusive supervision differentiation on employee work-family conflict, and examine the chain mediating role of work-related rumination and organizational citizenship behavior/deviant workplace behavior, as well as the moderating role of work-family boundary segmentation preference.Design/methodology/approachThe authors designed two studies: Study 1 was a scenario experiment with 120 Master of Business Administration students. To further explore this finding, the authors conducted a multiwave survey in Study 2 with 345 employees from various organizations.FindingsThe results of Study 1 showed that abusive supervision differentiation had a positive effect on work-related rumination, and work-related rumination mediated the relationship between differentiated abusive supervision and organizational citizenship behavior/deviant workplace behavior. The results of Study 2 not only confirmed the conclusions of Study 1 but also revealed that organizational citizenship behavior/deviant workplace behavior significantly affected work-family conflict. Abusive supervision differentiation had a positive effect on work-family conflict through work-related rumination and organizational citizenship behavior/deviant workplace behavior. In addition, work-family boundary segmentation preference negatively moderated the relationship between organizational citizenship behavior and work-family conflict.Originality/valueFirst, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first paper to test the spillover effect of abusive supervision differentiation on the family domain through a chain mediation model. It extends the research on abusive supervision differentiation from the work domain to the family domain. Second, previous research has highlighted role conflict or role insufficiency as significant factors contributing to work-family conflict. However, this study suggests that abusive supervision differentiation from workplace managers can also trigger work-family conflict, providing a new perspective in the study of precursors to work-family conflict.

Positive Well-Being, Work-Related Rumination and Work Engagement among Chinese University Logistics Staff.

Logistics personnel in Chinese universities are facing unbalanced costs and benefit from overloaded work with minimum wages, which impede school development and their well-being. However, the logistics staff population has been neglected in past investigations pertaining to psychological health conditions. The present study aimed to examine the positive well-being, work-related rumination, and work engagement of logistics staff, their correlations, and the factors affecting well-being in 282 Chinese university logistics staff via the Smith Well-being Questionnaire, the Work-Related Rumination Questionnaire, and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. The results indicated low levels of well-being and high levels of work-related rumination and work engagement among Chinese university logistics staff. The presence of positive attitudes towards life and work and high levels of work engagement predicts enhanced well-being, while the presence of negative characteristics and work-related rumination predicts decreased well-being. In situations where the working hours and work duties are challenging to change, universities can regularly schedule psychological counselling sessions for logistics staff to improve their well-being.

Effectiveness of an online recovery training for employees exposed to blurred boundaries between work and non-work: Bayesian analysis of a randomised controlled trial

BackgroundBlurred work–non-work boundaries can have negative effects on mental health, including sleep.ObjectivesIn a randomised control trial, we aimed to assess the effectiveness of an online recovery training programme designed to...

Work-related rumination declines with age but is moderated by gender.

Much is known about the physical effects of work and health, but less is known about how older workers unwind mentally from work, and their post-work ruminative thinking. The present study aimed to explore the association between age, gender and two types of work-related rumination: affective rumination, and problem-solving pondering. This study utilized a sample of 3991 full-time employees (working 30 or more hours per week), who were stratified into five age bands (18-25, 26-35, 36-45, 46-55, and 56-65 yrs.). Affective rumination was found to significantly decline in the older age groups (46 + yrs.), but this finding was moderated by gender. Males reported lower work-related rumination over the entire age range, but the greatest difference between males and females was observed in the 56-65 age category. The results for problem-solving pondering mirrored those of affective rumination but with the only exception that there was no significant difference in gender between those aged 18-25 years. These findings add to our understanding about how workers (between different age groups) mentally switch off from work and highlight the need for interventions to help older workers mentally recover from the effects of work.

The role of perceived autonomy support and fear of failure: A weekly diary study on work-related rumination.

Grounded in self-determination theory, the present study examined the weekly fluctuations in different forms of work-related rumination depending on perceived autonomy support and fear of failure at the workplace. Work-related rumination has three dimensions, affective rumination (negative emotions or affect), problem-solving pondering (thinking over the actions to handle the problems), and psychological detachment (mentally distancing oneself from work during nonwork time). In total, 111 employees (Mage = 34.88, SD = 10.43) from various occupations were followed over the course of three weeks via weekly measurements, resulting in 333 matched observations. Multilevel random coefficient modeling showed that on the weeks when employees reported higher levels of perceived autonomy support from the leader, they engaged in affective rumination and problem-solving pondering less. However, weekly fluctuations in psychological detachment from work was not associated with perceived autonomy support. Moreover, on the weeks when employees experienced high fear of failure, they reported less psychological detachment from work during nonwork time. Lastly, within-and and between-person fear of failure moderated the negative link between perceived autonomy support and affective rumination. Findings showed that perceived autonomy support is a protective factor for employees high in both state and trait fear of failure in decreasing affective rumination. Directions for future research and implication for practice were discussed.

Artificial intelligence (AI) awareness and work withdrawal: evaluating chained mediation through negative work-related rumination and emotional exhaustion

PurposeThis study aims to investigate whether and how artificial intelligence (AI) awareness affects work withdrawal.Design/methodology/approachThis survey garners participation from a total of 305 hotel employees in China. The proposed hypotheses are examined using Hayes’s PROCESS macro.FindingsThe results indicate that AI awareness could positively affect work withdrawal. Negative work-related rumination and emotional exhaustion respectively mediate this relationship. Furthermore, negative work-related rumination and emotional exhaustion act as chain mediators between AI awareness and work withdrawal.Practical implicationsGiven the growing adoption of AI technology in the hospitality industry, it is imperative that managers intensify their scrutiny of the psychological changes experienced by frontline service employees and allocate more resources to mitigating the impact of AI on their work withdrawal.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the burgeoning literature on AI by elucidating the chain mediating roles of negative work-related rumination and emotional exhaustion. It also makes a significant forward in examining mediating mechanisms, notably the chain-mediated mechanism, through which AI awareness impacts employee outcomes.

When work bothers your mind: a diary study on the relationship of German teachers’ work-related rumination with fatigue

This study investigated the association of school attendance restrictions in the early stages of the coronavirus disease pandemic with teacher-specific workload, and work-related rumination of teachers in Germany. Deduced from the effort-recovery model, that assumes that work might lead to strain reactions, making recovery necessary to avoid long-term health impairments, fatigue and positive as well as negative contents of work-related rumination in nonwork time were investigated in a five-day diary study with three measurement points per day. A total of 1,697 daily measures of 174 teachers were gathered over three consecutive workdays and the weekend. Only those days were included in which the teachers worked. Multilevel structural equation modeling revealed that teachers during school restrictions showed lower teacher-specific workload, which was associated with lower levels of affective rumination and problem-solving pondering. The effect on fatigue was mediated only by affective rumination such that a higher affective rumination was related to a higher fatigue level on the between and within-level. There was a significant three-path mediation from group belongingness over teacher-specific workload to affective rumination and fatigue. Problem-solving pondering did not affect fatigue level. The present study provides evidence of the association of COVID-19 restrictions with teacher-specific workload and the importance of differentiating the facets of work-related rumination.

Linking Work-related Rumination to Employee Performance: A Resource-based Perspective

Linking Work-related Rumination to Employee Performance: A Resource-based Perspective

EFL teachers in lockdown: does work-related rumination predict work-related behavior patterns during covid pandemic?

EFL teachers in lockdown: does work-related rumination predict work-related behavior patterns during covid pandemic?

Work Stress and Personal and Relational Well-Being Among Chinese College Teachers: The Indirect Roles of Sense of Control and Work-Related Rumination.

The association between work stress and well-being has been well documented. However, the underlying mechanism for such association is not clear, especially in terms of how work stress relates to both personal and relational well-being. Based on the Conservation of Resources Theory and the Stress Process Model, the present study examined the potential indirect roles of the sense of control and the work-related rumination in the associations between work stress and both personal and relational well-being. Data were collected from 536 married Chinese university teachers (Mage = 39.40 + 7.64, 38.6% males) through an online survey. Analyses were conducted using structural equation modeling via Mplus. Work stress was indirectly associated with life satisfaction through (a) sense of control, (b) work-related rumination, and (c) a sequential pathway from sense of control to work-related rumination. Work stress was indirectly associated with relationship satisfaction through sense of control. Findings suggest that sense of control would be an important linking mechanism underlying the association between work stress and college teachers' well-being. Personal well-being may be more vulnerable to work-related rumination than relational well-being. Insights for prevention and intervention efforts in enriching college teachers' well-being are discussed.

Work Stress, Work-Related Rumination, and Depressive Symptoms in University Teachers: Buffering Effect of Self-Compassion.

The association between work stress and depressive symptoms has been well documented. More research is still needed to further investigate the underlying explanatory process mechanism and the potential protective function of personal resource in attenuating the negative effect of work stress on mental health. To address this gap and informed by the stress process model and emotion regulation theory,the present study examined the indirect role of work-related rumination and the buffering effect of self-compassion in university teachers, a population with increased vulnerabilities for both work stress and mental health issues. This study collected data from 727 university teachers (M age = 37.65 ± 7.77 years, 61.5% women) through an online survey. Indirect effect analysis and moderation effect analysis were implemented using structural equation modeling via Mplus. Work stress was directly and indirectly associated with depressive symptoms through work-related rumination, and self-compassion moderated the associations between (a) work stress and depressive symptoms and (b) work-related rumination and depressive symptoms. The direct and indirect effects of work stress on depressive symptoms were weaker in university teachers with high levels of self-compassion than in those with low levels of self-compassion. Work stress was associated with depressive symptoms through a cognitive pathway. The findings deepen our understanding of the link between work stress and mental health outcomes by revealing the indirect role of cognitive processes, the protective function of emotion regulation strategies, and their interplay. Reducing work-related rumination and strengthening self-compassion may constitute effective interventions to alleviate the negative effects of work stress on mental health.

Exploring the Relationship Between Work Stress and Work-related Rumination.

Current studies lack adequate analysis of the antecedents of the two forms of work-related rumination. However, understanding the relationship between different types of stress and the two forms of rumination is of profound significance for eliminating the influence of negative rumination. In this project, three studies were conducted to investigate the cumulative and immediate effects of challenge and hindrance stress on affective rumination and problem-solving rumination based on one-time, two-time points and daily measurements. Participants were 1109, 605 and 111 employees from a variety of jobs in Chinese mainland. The results showed the relationship between hindrance stress and affective rumination varies over different time course. There was no significant correlation between hindrance stress and problem-solving rumination over any time course. The relationship between challenge stress and two forms of work-related rumination varies over different time course. The results of this study suggest that the antecedent analysis of work-related rumination should not only give attention to the type of work stress, but also consider the time of work stress when analyzing its aftereffects.