The shadowy realm of proactivity: how rumination fuels work–life conflict

Purpose The current study explores the linking mechanisms and conditional processes underlying the relationship between proactive work behavior (PWB) and work-life conflict (WLC), and the mediating role of rumination. Based on the conservation of resources theory, we hypothesized that PWB is a resource-consuming activity that increases emotional and cognitive strain by making one ruminate (demarcated as reflection/reflective pondering and brooding), which in turn, results in work-to-life conflict. Design/methodology/approach Multi-phased data was obtained from 244 working Indian adults who were working full-time in organization across India. Data was analyzed using structural equation modelling, using SPSS (v.26) and AMOS (v.23). Findings Overall, empirical data supported our model. Our finding indicates that PWB impact WLC, mediated through rumination (reflection and brooding) differentially. Brooding mediated between PWB and WLC (p < 0.001). Reflective pondering had a negative influence on WLC, and also had a negative indirect impact between PWB and WLC (p = 0.022). Originality/value Our study adds on to the research on the negative outcome of proactive work behavior (i.e., causing work-to-life conflict). Additionally, our study also explores the indirect pathway of proactive work behavior that impacts work-life conflict, through rumination. We further demarcated between the two types of rumination, viz., reflective pondering and brooding, and established that they have different influences on this relationship between PWB and WLC.