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Background: Recent research indicates that as men age, their tendency to ruminate about work decreases, while ruminating remains high in women, which poses an increased risk for impaired health among older women., Objective: This study explored gender differences/similarities in the process of unwinding from work in men and women aged between 56-65 years., Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted online with eight men and eight women, recruited from a UK leading organization that provides health care solutions between May and June 2022. Participants were asked about their job role and responsibilities, their leisure time activities, how they unwind post work, and their experiences of thinking about work related thoughts outside of work. Transcripts were analyzed using an inductive analysis., Results: Three superordinate themes were identified that underpinned their ability to unwind: 'Work style', 'Creating work-life balance' and 'Switching off from one's responsibilities'. Women reported a more perfectionist approach, they set high standards for themselves, were worried about making mistakes, and demonstrated, if in a supervisory role, a more nurturing and holistic approach to their colleagues/subordinates, while men, were more focused on task completion. Most women, but not men, also described difficulties in psychologically switching off from work, and stated they could only truly relax outside the home, when they are away from household activities., Conclusion: The study provides nuanced insights into the experiences of unwinding from work, and the findings suggest the need for person-centric approaches in developing interventions to help workers over 56 years to psychologically disengage from work.

Background: Much is known about the physical effects of work and health, but less is known about how older workers unwind mentally from work, and their post-work ruminative thinking., Objective: The present study aimed to explore the association between age, gender and two types of work-related rumination: affective rumination, and problem-solving pondering., Methods: This study utilized a sample of 3991 full-time employees (working 30 or more hours per week), who were stratified into five age bands (18-25, 26-35, 36-45, 46-55, and 56-65 yrs.)., Results: Affective rumination was found to significantly decline in the older age groups (46 + yrs.), but this finding was moderated by gender. Males reported lower work-related rumination over the entire age range, but the greatest difference between males and females was observed in the 56-65 age category. The results for problem-solving pondering mirrored those of affective rumination but with the only exception that there was no significant difference in gender between those aged 18-25 years., Conclusion: These findings add to our understanding about how workers (between different age groups) mentally switch off from work and highlight the need for interventions to help older workers mentally recover from the effects of work.

Background: Using 24-hour narratives as a starting-point, the present study examines conditions for recovery from work. The third shift concept forms the explorative starting point for highlighting the interplay between work, family responsibilities, leisure time and recovery., Objective: The aim of the study is to explore how the third shift affects possibilities for recovery., Method: The material was gathered by group interviews and diaries. Thirty employees participated in the study. Ten participants where women between 30 and 45 years of age with children living at home., Results: Being solely responsible for the third shift reduced the chances of recovery during work-free time. The material showed that women aged 30-45 years had to a greater extent than others the main responsibility in a complex third shift., Conclusion: As a precondition for external recovery, this study show how theoretically beneficial the breakdown of the second shift and development of the third shift is for understanding different preconditions and the way they affect the possibility of recovery.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine whether physical health and well-being are affected by work rumination and the role of work interruptions as job events. It was hypothesized that stressful work interruptions, would be related to affective rumination, psychosomatic symptoms and poorer general health., Objective: To determine the role of work rumination in the relationship between work interruptions, physical and general well-being., Methods: Self-reports of distressing work interruptions, psychosomatic symptoms and general health data were gathered from employees (N = 139) from diverse occupational groups., Results: Affective rumination acted as a partial mediator (β= 0.37) and moderator (β= 0.24) in the relationship between stressful work interruptions and psychosomatic symptoms. As a mediator affective rumination explains 34.8% of the effect of work interruptions on psychosomatic symptoms., Conclusion: Affective rumination about work hinders psycho-physiological recovery, and such an effect relates to stressful work interruptions. Implications for future research are discussed.