The Complex Interplay Between Emotion Regulation and Work Rumination on Exhaustion

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Occupational Health
• Organizational Behavior

Background:

• Emotion regulation strategies (reappraisal, suppression) and work-related rumination (affective rumination, detachment) are crucial for employee well-being.
• Exhaustion is a significant outcome in high-stress professions, impacting performance and retention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mediating role of work-related rumination in the relationship between emotion regulation strategies and exhaustion.
• To examine the direct and indirect effects of reappraisal, suppression, affective rumination, and detachment on exhaustion.

Main Methods:

• A web-based survey was administered to 1985 participants in psychology, teaching, and ministry professions.
• Statistical analyses, including mediation and moderation, were employed to test the proposed relationships.

Main Results:

• Reappraisal and detachment were negatively associated with exhaustion.
• Suppression and affective work rumination were positively associated with exhaustion.
• Work-ruminative tendencies significantly mediated the relationship between emotion regulation strategies and exhaustion, but moderation was not supported.

Conclusions:

• Work-ruminative tendencies act as a mediator, not a moderator, in the link between emotion regulation and exhaustion.
• Understanding these mediating mechanisms offers insights into developing interventions to mitigate exhaustion in human service occupations.
• The findings underscore the importance of specific emotion regulation strategies and managing rumination for employee recovery and well-being.