Hallottad? A pletyka jótékony hatással van a jóllétre

Abstract

Background and aims: This study explores the relationship between workplace gossip, rumination, and employee well-being across different work arrangements. It hypothesizes that (H1) employees in traditional work settings will experience higher rumination than remote workers, and (H2) in-office workers will engage in more gossip than their remote counterparts. Additionally, (H3) positive gossip and rumination will positively predict employee well-being.
Method: A total of 120 employees (96 women, 24 men) completed questionnaires assessing their work arrangements, gossip frequency, rumination levels, and well-being. The PERMA well-being scale, the Workplace Gossip Scale, and the Positive and Negative Rumination Scale were used. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and hierarchical regression.
Results: ANOVA revealed that remote workers experienced significantly less rumination compared to hybrid and in-office workers. Kruskal-Wallis tests showed higher gossip levels among hybrid and in-office workers, with no significant difference between these two groups. Regression analysis indicated that positive gossip and positive rumination together explained 24.9% of the variance in employee well-being.
Discussion: The findings suggest that remote work may reduce workplace stressors, leading to lower rumination, while in-office and hybrid workers engage more frequently in gossip, likely due to closer social ties. A limitation of the study is the use of unvalidated Hungarian versions of the gossip and rumination scales, as well as the gender imbalance in the sample.