Dr Hannah Collis

Work-related rumination has been associated with a number of health complaints, however, little is known about the underlying factors associated with rumination. Previous work using proxy measures of executive function showed work-related rumination to be negatively associated with executive function. In this paper, we report two studies that examined the association between work-related rumination and executive function utilizing an ecological valid measure of executive function: the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF-A, ). In study 1 ( = 63), high, relative to low work-related ruminators, were found to demonstrate lower executive function skills, in eight of the nine subscales of the BRIEF. The aim of study 2 ( = 237) was to identify, the key executive function subscale/s associated with work-related rumination. Controlling for known factors associated with work-related rumination (fatigue and sleep), regression analysis identified the behavioral regulation subscale “shift” as the key predictor within the model. Shift relates to our ability to switch attention, to think about different solutions, and dealing with and accepting change. It was concluded that these findings lend support for future research to develop interventions for enhancing shift ability, as an aid to reduce work-related ruminative thinking.

COVID-19 has significantly impacted how we behave in society, but how is that influencing our personality development? We conducted a 14-day diary study ( = 242;  = 2,277) exploring the short-term trajectories of state personality and affect during the first 2 months of the UK national lockdown. Positive quadratic trajectories (U-shaped patterns) were observed for state Neuroticism, negative affect and stress, whilst an inverted-U shape was found for Extraversion and positive affect. However, lockdown experiences are different for those who were able to remain working (from home, for example), compared to those who could not (furlough, zero-hour contracts, unemployed). Indeed, those in work showed a higher, linear trajectory in state Conscientiousness, higher inverted-U shaped trajectory in Extraversion and positive affect, with lower stress and negative affect patterns than those out of work. Findings contribute to the growing literature on state development and the impact of work on personality development.

The present study explored personality following job transition, hypothesising that the experience will cause traits to change, that fit will moderate the relationship and change would impact both work and personal outcomes.  A longitudinal, within-subjects design was employed. Ninety-seven participants completed the study, with a 61.86% retention rate. Participants completed online measures of personality, job satisfaction, fit and perceived stress at two time points (= 5.6 weeks), within 6 months of a job transition. Significant personality change was found, with large effect sizes (>0.8). Fit was only found to moderate change in conscientiousness. Stress was identified to be a predictor for change for openness ( = .08), intellectual curiosity (= .07), creative imagination ( = .09) and responsibility ( = .12). In regards to outcomes of personality change, openness change was correlated with lower job satisfaction at time two ( = .25), and higher stress at time two was correlated with change in productiveness ( = .27), responsibility ( = .28) and assertiveness ( = .28). A limitation is that job demands wasn’t measured, which may have indicated a directional nature of trait change. Additionally, only utilising two time points limits the identification of fundamental trait change as a response to job transition. These findings have expanded knowledge of personality change as a response to workplace events, and how this experience impacts work outcomes. This may impact organisational use of personality measures, yet more research is required. This paper presents a novel finding of personality change over a short time period within occupational settings, which has only previously been documented within intervention studies.