Unable to Switch Off
Fear of Missing Out, Affective Rumination, and Psychological Detachment from Work
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15508772 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Cátia Sousa (0000-0001-9905-8138, University of Algarve, corresponding author), Barbara Pires (University of Algarve) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 463-463 |
| Publication date | 2026-04-04 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601 |
| Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3390/ijerph23040463 |
| OpenAlex | W7150922753 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 21 |
The expansion of digital connectivity has reshaped contemporary work environments, increasing flexibility while simultaneously blurring the boundaries between work and personal life. In such contexts, employees may experience difficulties in psychologically detaching from work during off-job time. Drawing on the Effort–Recovery model and Conservation of Resources theory, this study examined whether affective work-related rumination indirectly explained the association between Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) and psychological detachment. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 228 employees from diverse occupational sectors who completed validated measures of FoMO, affective rumination, and psychological detachment. Indirect effect analyses using bootstrapping procedures indicated that FoMO was positively associated with affective rumination, and affective rumination was negatively associated with psychological detachment. The indirect effect was significant, whereas the direct association between FoMO and detachment was not. These findings are consistent with an indirect association pattern whereby FoMO is related to lower psychological detachment through higher levels of affective rumination. However, given the cross-sectional design, the results should be interpreted as correlational evidence rather than as demonstrating a causal mediation process. The model accounted for approximately 10% of the variance in psychological detachment. Overall, the findings suggest that FoMO may be indirectly related to reduced recovery experiences via emotionally charged repetitive thinking that sustains cognitive activation beyond working hours. Addressing rumination and supporting healthier digital boundary management may therefore represent promising avenues for supporting occupational mental health in increasingly connected work environments
Association (psychology · Bootstrapping (finance · Cognition · Flexibility (engineering · Mediation · Moderated mediation · Rumination · Variance (accounting · Work (physics · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Work-Family Balance Challenges
Exploring the relationship between work-related rumination, sleep quality, and work-related fatigue.
The Recovery Experience Questionnaire
Job demands–resources theory
Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models
Rethinking Rumination
The European Portuguese version of the Fear of Missing Out scale (FoMOs-P) in higher education students
Fear of Missing out (Fomo)
Smartphone Use, Work–Home Interference, and Burnout
Motivational, emotional, and behavioral correlates of fear of missing out
Recovery from Work
Recovery from job stress
Responses to depression and their effects on the duration of depressive episodes
Conservation of resources
| Highly cited | No |
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