{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,4]],"date-time":"2026-05-04T10:42:01Z","timestamp":1777891321336,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"1","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["WOR"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,11]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>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\u201365 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: \u2018Work style\u2019, \u2018Creating work-life balance\u2019 and \u2018Switching off from one\u2019s responsibilities\u2019. 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.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3233\/wor-230406","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,8]],"date-time":"2024-03-08T10:23:31Z","timestamp":1709893411000},"page":"425-436","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["A thematic analysis of how men and women post 56 years unwind from work during their free time"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"79","author":[{"given":"Mark","family":"Cropley","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Surrey, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Isabella N.","family":"Da Silva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Surrey, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Leif W.","family":"Rydstedt","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, HHS, Department of Psychology, Lillehammer, Norway"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Maria I.T.","family":"Olsson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, HHS, Department of Psychology, Lillehammer, Norway"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"179","reference":[{"issue":"2","key":"10.3233\/WOR-230406_ref2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"225","DOI":"10.1037\/ocp0000031","article-title":"sleepless nights: How unfinished tasks at the end of the week impair employee sleep on the weekend through rumination","volume":"22","author":"Syrek","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Occup Health Psychol"},{"issue":"4","key":"10.3233\/WOR-230406_ref3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"553","DOI":"10.3233\/WOR-192890","article-title":"The mediating and moderating role of affective rumination between work interruptions and well-being","volume":"62","author":"Zoupanou","year":"2019","journal-title":"Work"},{"issue":"3","key":"10.3233\/WOR-230406_ref4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"333","DOI":"10.1080\/02614360902951682","article-title":"How do individuals \u201cswitch-off\u201d from work during leisure? 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Assessing the effect of a Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)-based workshop on work-related rumination, fatigue, and sleeEuropean Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology. 2016;25(1):50\u201367.","DOI":"10.1080\/1359432X.2015.1015516"},{"issue":"2","key":"10.3233\/WOR-230406_ref45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"153","DOI":"10.1037\/ocp0000028","article-title":"Internet-based instructor-led mindfulness for work-related rumination, fatigue, and sleep: Assessing facets of mindfulness as mechanisms of change","volume":"22","author":"Querstret","year":"2017","journal-title":"A randomized waitlist control trial. 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