Microbreak Activities and Safety Behaviour: The Roles of Absorption and Work-Related Rumination

Abstract

We consider microbreak activities to be an important strategy for employees to recover cognitive resources at work. Drawing upon the resource conservation theory, we delve into the intricate association between microbreak activities and safety behaviour.We explore the mediating influence of absorption in this relationship, while also considering the moderating effect of work-related rumination. We aim to provide a more comprehensive understanding of how these variables interplay and influence one another.We collected multilevel data from construction workers across five consecutive workdays in China using the experience sampling method. The results showed that engaging in microbreak activities was associated with improved absorption. Microbreak activities had a positive indirect effect on the safety behaviour through absorption. Work-related rumination negatively moderated the relationship between microbreak activities and absorption and the indirect relationship between microbreak activities and employees’ safety behaviours via absorption. These relationships are significant only when work-related rumination is lower rather than higher.

Keywords: Microbreak activities, Safety behaviour, Absorption, Work-related rumination