Exploring Emotions at Work: The Effects of Trait Affect and Display Rules on Co-rumination

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relation between trait affect and co-rumination, and the mediating role of display rules on the affect-co-rumination association. The moderating role of affectivity on the relation between display rules and co-rumination was also examined. Affectivity was examined as a moderator of its own indirect effect to test for moderatedmediation. For data collection, MTurk was used to generate a sample of 338 US employees. Participants received affectivity, display rules, and co-rumination measures at one time point. Results showed that affectivity is related to one's display rule perceptions, with negative affectivity predicting negative display rules and positive affectivity predicting positive display rules. Positive display rules, but not negative display rules, predicted increased co-rumination. Both positive and negative affectivity predicted increased co-rumination. Display rules were not found to mediate the affectivity-co-rumination association. Lastly, affectivity was not found to moderate the display rules-co-rumination association, thus ruling out the possibility of moderated-mediation. Contrary to prediction, this study demonstrates that co-rumination may occur regardless of one's affectivity. Further, it suggests that work environments with positive display rules may be particularly susceptible to co-rumination. This study articulates the importance of creating work environments that support the emotional needs of employees.