Mindfulness buffers the deleterious effects of workaholism for work-family conflict. (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Daniel, Carole; Gentina, Elodie; Mesmer-Magnus, Jessica
• Is Part Of: Social science & medicine. Volume 306(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: Trait mindfulness -- Mindfulness practice -- Work-family conflict -- Workaholism; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine sociale -- Périodiques; Anthropologie médicale -- Périodiques; Santé publique -- Périodiques; Psychologie -- Périodiques; Médecine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115118
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-9536

Abstract

Abstract: Rationale: Workaholism logically corresponds to the experience of work-family conflict (WFC) which is associated with a wide variety of negative employee outcomes. Finding ways to mitigate the occurrence of workaholism and/or lessen its deleterious effects on the work-family interface is practically important. Mindfulness research may hold some promise in this regard. Objective: We explore the potential that mindfulness - through its association with accuracy and salience of present moment experience and disengagement from automatic thoughts and debilitating behavior - may buffer the effects of workaholic tendencies on the experience of WFC. Methods: We use a two-study design (total n = 1022) to examine the role of dispositional mindfulness and mindfulness practice on the workaholism-WFC relationship. Results: Results suggest that (1) trait mindfulness buffers the workaholism-WFC relationship (Study 1; n = 307), and that (2) mindfulness practice and mindfulness training similarly buffer this relationship (Study 2; n = 715). Conclusion: Mindfulness effectively serves as a buffer in the relationship between workaholism and WFC. Highlights: Workaholism increases work/family conflict (WFC). Dispositional mindfulness buffers the deleterious effect of workaholism on WFC. The practice of mindfulness meditation plays a similar moderating role. Mindfulness training further amplifies the benefits of mindfulness practice.