Jianxing Fu, Chunhua Chen, Xianghui Lai
Results showed that RWI interacted with GSE in predicting AffRum, such that high RWI was associated with higher rumination among employees with low GSE. No such interaction was found for PSP; suggesting that work-related problem-solving warrants further investigation to determine whether it stems from its constructive problem-solving nature or from how the construct is operationalized and perceived. Overall, our correlational findings suggest that intensive remote work configurations may present specific risks for recovery when personal self-regulatory resources are limited.
BACKGROUND: Work-related strain may extend beyond the workplace by disrupting family life and sustaining emotionally distressing thoughts about work during off-job time. This study tested whether the association between police work stress and occupational burnout included a serial indirect component through work interference with family (WIF) and affective work rumination (AWR).
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was completed by 1,464 police officers serving across nine cities in southeastern China. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to estimate the direct association and three prespecified indirect effects involving WIF and AWR.
RESULTS: Bivariate analyses revealed significant positive associations among police work stress, work interference with family (WIF), affective work rumination (AWR), and occupational burnout. Police work stress was significantly and positively associated with overall occupational burnout and its three specific dimensions. In the overall occupational burnout model, the indirect effects through WIF, through AWR, and serially through both were all statistically significant. Dimension-specific analyses showed that the total indirect effect was significant in the personal burnout and work-related burnout models, but not in the client-related burnout model.
CONCLUSION: The direct association between police work stress and occupational burnout remained significant after WIF and AWR were included in the model. Significant indirect effects were observed separately through WIF and AWR. The serial indirect association through WIF followed by AWR was also statistically significant. Burnout-prevention programs could address organizational stressors alongside family-supportive practices, work-home boundary management, and techniques for reducing affective rumination outside working hours.