Ruminative thinking exacerbates the negative effects of workplace violence. Issue 1 (12th October 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Niven, Karen; Sprigg, Christine A.; Armitage, Christopher J.; Satchwell, Adam
• Is Part Of: Journal of occupational and organizational psychology. Volume 86:Issue 1(2013:Mar.)
• Page Start: 67
• Page End: 84
• Publication Date: 2012-10-12
• Subjects: Psychology, Industrial -- Periodicals; Psychology, Applied -- Periodicals; Personnel management -- Periodicals; 158.705
• DOI: 10.1111/j.2044-8325.2012.02066.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-1798

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="joop2066-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="joop2066-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>In this article, we investigate the impact of engaging in ruminative‐style thoughts after exposure to workplace violence. Rumination is a form of self‐focused thinking characterized by abstract and passive negative thoughts. In an experimental study in which student volunteers were exposed to simulated violence using a video manipulation, the unpleasant affect of participants instructed to ruminate about the violence persisted, while the affect of participants in a distraction condition was quickly repaired. In a field study of violence experienced by social workers in their everyday working lives, employees who had a high tendency to engage in ruminative thinking exhibited a stronger negative relationship between exposure to violence and poor well‐being and health complaints compared with those who had a low tendency to ruminate. Together, our findings suggest that ruminative thinking may exacerbate the negative effects of workplace violence.</p> </sec> <sec id="joop2066-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Practitioner Points</title> <p> <list id="joop2066-list-0001" list-type="bullet"> <list-item> <p>Being subjected to violence at work can have negative implications for employees' health and well‐being, but it is not always possible for organizations to prevent violent attacks (e.g., from members of the public).</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Our findings indicate that the negative consequences of violence may be intensified when the victim engages in rumination, a negative type of thinking about the self that involves passive, abstract thoughts about what happened and the effects on one's life.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Organizations should therefore seek to discourage ruminative thinking among victims of workplace violence.</p> </list-item> </list> </p> </sec> </abstract>