Work-related rumination as a mediator between hindrance demands and sleep quality

Abstract

Job demands can negatively affect sleep. However, previous studies have provided inconclusive results regarding the mediating role of work-related rumination in this relationship. Integrating prolonged activation theory with the challenge-hindrance framework, we hypothesized that – on a day level – hindrance demands, but not challenge demands, are negatively associated with sleep quality and sleep duration via work-related rumination. We tested this assumption in a 14-day ambulatory assessment study with a sample of employees (N = 175). As predicted, we found that only hindrance demands, but not challenge demands, are related to sleep quality via work-related rumination. No relationships with sleep duration were found for any type of job demands.