Long working hours and exhaustion: A test of rumination as a mediator among mobile-flexible employees in activity-based offices

Abstract

The present study examines the effect of extended work hours on experienced exhaustion in the evening in mobile-flexible employees who work in activity-flexible offices. In a seven-day diary study, it was anticipated that daily rumination is a mediator, linked to additional daily exhaustion in individuals. In a morning questionnaire, mobile-flexible employees completed daily questions about the link between extended work hours and exhaustion. Thirty-three employees completed daily questions on the extension of working hours, rumination, and exhaustion. Multilevel analyses of up to 238 daily measurements revealed that more intense extension of working hours predicted more rumination as well as exhaustion. Extended work hours and rumination both predicted more exhaustion. A test of the indirect effects showed no mediation from the extension of working hours via rumination to exhaustion. When designing mobile-flexible work models, overtime is a risk. Occupational prevention of exhaustion should promote recovery processes, especially as new work models may lead to increased rumination due to more personal responsibility of employees.

Long Working Hours, Work-life Imbalance, and Poor Mental Health: A Cross-sectional Mediation Analysis Based on the Sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey, 2020–2021

“…[21][22][23] Furthermore, long working hours may trigger persistent rumination about work matters, even during personal time, leading to adverse consequences for mental well-being, such as burnout symptoms. 24 Previous studies have documented the detrimental effects of WLI on mental well-being, such as depressive symptoms, fatigue, and sleep problems. [25][26][27] Consequently, based on existing literature, it can be hypothesized that an increase in WLI could serve as a mediator in the association between long working hours and poor mental well-being.…”