The Dual Nature of Workplace FoMO and Its Impact on Stress Appraisal : The Mediating Role of Work-Related Rumination and the Moderating Role of Job Autonomy

This study examines the impact of workplace FoMO on stress appraisal and investigates the simple mediating roles of work-related rumination subfactors. Additionally, it investigates whether job autonomy moderates the relationship between workplace FoMO and stress appraisal through the second pathway of problem-solving contemplation, ultimately exploring the moderated mediation effects as a whole. A survey of 367 employees in South Korea was conducted, and structural equation modeling (SEM) and PROCESS Macro were used to test the hypotheses. The results indicate that workplace FoMO increases both threat and challenge appraisals. Furthermore, emotional rumination reinforces threat appraisal while inhibiting challenge appraisal, whereas problem-solving pondering reduces threat appraisal and promotes challenge appraisal as a mediator. Job autonomy moderates the positive relationship between problem-solving pondering and challenge appraisal. This study suggests that workplace FoMO is not solely a negative stressor but can be transformed into a positive motivational factor with appropriate cognitive coping mechanisms and environmental support. Based on these findings, practical implications for managing FoMO and stress interventions within organizations are discussed.