Association between Work‑Related Rumination, Work Environment and Employee Well‑Being: A Meta‑Analytic Study of Main and Moderator Effects

Abstract

Rumination has been proposed to play a significant role as a potential mechanism impairing the recovery process after work. This study examined two main effects: the association between a negative work environment and work-related rumination, and the association between work-related rumination and lack of employee well-being. Moreover, moderator effects of age, seniority and gender were examined. For this purpose, a meta-analysis was conducted. The results of a primary analysis indicated a significant association between rumination and both negative work events and lack of well-being. Meta-regression analysis revealed that the main effects are not moderated by the variables considered. Our findings emphasize the importance of reducing ruminative thinking at both individual and organizational levels.

Keywords: well-being, work environment, rumination, meta-analysis