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Adding fuel to the fire: The exacerbating effects of calling intensity on the relationship between emotionally disturbing work and employee health.

Authors :
Andel SA
Pindek S
Spector PE
Crowe RP
Cash RE
Panchal A
Source :
Journal of occupational health psychology [J Occup Health Psychol] 2022 Oct; Vol. 27 (5), pp. 488-502. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 May 19.
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

The burgeoning occupational callings literature has shown that feeling called to a job is associated with an array of positive job-, career-, and health-related outcomes. However, recent studies have begun to indicate that there may also be a "negative side" of callings. The present study builds on this emerging perspective to examine whether feeling called to a job makes helping professionals more vulnerable to the negative effects of acute stressors. Specifically, we integrated identity, cognitive rumination, and psychological detachment theories to explain how feeling called to one's job (i.e., the strength of one's calling intensity) might bolster the negative, indirect relationship between emotionally disturbing work and strain (i.e., mental exhaustion, sleep quality, and alcohol consumption) through negative work rumination. Results from a 10-week diary study with a national U.S. sample of 211 paramedics revealed that on weeks that paramedics experienced more emotionally disturbing work, they engaged in greater levels of negative work rumination, which in turn was associated with greater mental exhaustion and worse sleep quality, but not greater alcohol consumption. In addition, calling intensity moderated the indirect effect of emotionally disturbing work on both mental exhaustion and sleep quality, such that these indirect effects were stronger among those with higher (vs. lower) levels of calling intensity. These results provide evidence that employees who feel most called to their jobs may be particularly vulnerable to short-term negative outcomes associated with emotionally disturbing work. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1939-1307
Volume :
27
Issue :
5
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Journal of occupational health psychology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
35588382
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000331