{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,19]],"date-time":"2026-06-19T04:55:53Z","timestamp":1781844953006,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":58,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,13]],"date-time":"2026-06-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1781308800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100012226","name":"Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["2025YJS124"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2025YJS124"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100012226","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Behavioral Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>With the increasing embeddedness of AI robots and other intelligent technologies in organizational workplaces, leader AI-focused attention has emerged as an important reference point for employees as they use and adapt to AI-related technologies. Drawing on work-related rumination theory, this study develops and tests an integrated mediation model to examine how leader AI-focused attention is related to employee proactive behavior through two parallel pathways: problem-solving pondering and affective rumination. It further investigates the moderating role of AI job role clarity. Based on structural equation modeling of multi-wave survey data from 514 employees, the results show that leader AI-focused attention positively predicts employees\u2019 problem-solving pondering and affective rumination. Problem-solving pondering is positively related to employee proactive behavior, whereas affective rumination is negatively related to employee proactive behavior. In addition, AI job role clarity positively moderates the relationship between leader AI-focused attention and problem-solving pondering; specifically, this positive relationship is stronger when employees report higher AI job role clarity. From the perspective of work-related rumination, this study extends the explanation of the psychological mechanisms linking leader AI-focused attention to employee proactive behavior. It also provides theoretical insights and practical implications for understanding the boundary condition of leaders\u2019 attentional signals in AI-related work contexts and for supporting employee proactive behavior.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/bs16060987","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,18]],"date-time":"2026-06-18T02:10:16Z","timestamp":1781748616000},"page":"987","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Does Leader AI-Focused Attention Promote Employee Proactivity? A Work-Related Rumination Theory Perspective"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Lu","family":"Xiao","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Economics and Management, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7344-4329","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Heng","family":"Zhao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Economics and Management, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jin","family":"Wan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Economics and Management, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang 330013, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"417","DOI":"10.1037\/0033-2909.121.3.417","article-title":"A stitch in time: Self-regulation and proactive coping","volume":"121","author":"Aspinwall","year":"1997","journal-title":"Psychological Bulletin"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"615","DOI":"10.1016\/S1048-9843(00)00062-X","article-title":"E-leadership: Implications for theory, research, and practice","volume":"11","author":"Avolio","year":"2000","journal-title":"The Leadership Quarterly"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101058","DOI":"10.1016\/j.hrmr.2024.101058","article-title":"The different faces of e-leadership: Six perspectives on leading in the era of digital technologies","volume":"35","author":"Bauwens","year":"2025","journal-title":"Human Resource Management Review"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"606","DOI":"10.1111\/1748-8583.12524","article-title":"Human resource management in the age of generative artificial intelligence: Perspectives and research directions on ChatGPT","volume":"33","author":"Budhwar","year":"2023","journal-title":"Human Resource Management Journal"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"349","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-orgpsych-041015-062352","article-title":"How technology is changing work and organizations","volume":"3","author":"Cascio","year":"2016","journal-title":"Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbusres.2022.01.069","article-title":"AI-employee collaboration and business performance: Integrating knowledge-based view, socio-technical systems and organisational socialisation framework","volume":"144","author":"Chowdhury","year":"2022","journal-title":"Journal of Business Research"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"435","DOI":"10.1177\/014920630002600304","article-title":"Proactive behavior in organizations","volume":"26","author":"Crant","year":"2000","journal-title":"Journal of Management"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Langan-Fox, J., and Cooper, C. L. (2011). Work and rumination. Handbook of stress in the occupations, Edward Elgar.","DOI":"10.4337\/9780857931153"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1453","DOI":"10.1007\/s10490-024-09975-z","article-title":"Let\u2018s talk about AI: Talking about AI is positively associated with AI crafting","volume":"42","author":"Dong","year":"2025","journal-title":"Asia Pacific Journal of Management"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1207\/S15327043HUP1401_06","article-title":"The concept of personal initiative: An overview of validity studies","volume":"14","author":"Fay","year":"2001","journal-title":"Human Performance"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"912","DOI":"10.1177\/00332941221122881","article-title":"How job stress affect flow experience at work: The masking and mediating effect of work-related rumination","volume":"127","author":"Feng","year":"2024","journal-title":"Psychological Reports"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Florea, N. V., and Croitoru, G. (2025). The impact of artificial intelligence on communication dynamics and performance in organizational leadership. Administrative Sciences, 15, (2).","DOI":"10.3390\/admsci15020033"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"627","DOI":"10.5465\/annals.2018.0057","article-title":"Human trust in artificial intelligence: Review of empirical research","volume":"14","author":"Glikson","year":"2020","journal-title":"Academy of Management Annals"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1016\/j.riob.2008.04.002","article-title":"The dynamics of proactivity at work","volume":"28","author":"Grant","year":"2008","journal-title":"Research in Organizational Behavior"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"327","DOI":"10.5465\/amj.2007.24634438","article-title":"A new model of work role performance: Positive behavior in uncertain and interdependent contexts","volume":"50","author":"Griffin","year":"2007","journal-title":"Academy of Management Journal"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.1080\/1359432X.2025.2538723","article-title":"The functional and dysfunctional consequences of supervisor negative feedback: The roles of affective rumination, metacognition, and regulatory focus","volume":"35","author":"Guo","year":"2025","journal-title":"European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2896","DOI":"10.1108\/MD-10-2022-1390","article-title":"Being proactive in the age of AI: Exploring the effectiveness of leaders\u2018 AI symbolization in stimulating employee job crafting","volume":"61","author":"He","year":"2023","journal-title":"Management Decision"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hu, C., Mohi Ud Din, Q., and Tahir, A. (2025). Artificial intelligence symbolic leadership in small and medium-sized enterprises: Enhancing employee flexibility and technology adoption. Systems, 13, (4).","DOI":"10.3390\/systems13040216"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jeong, J. (2026). Understanding how organizational AI adoption influences voice behavior: Examining the roles of job engagement and LMX. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, ahead-of-print.","DOI":"10.1108\/LODJ-03-2025-0230"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2773","DOI":"10.30574\/wjarr.2025.26.1.1415","article-title":"Leadership in the age of AI: Review of quantitative models and visualization for managerial decision-making","volume":"26","author":"Joshi","year":"2025","journal-title":"World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"385","DOI":"10.1037\/ocp0000198","article-title":"In the eye of the beholder: How proactive coping alters perceptions of insecurity","volume":"25","author":"Koen","year":"2020","journal-title":"Journal of Occupational Health Psychology"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"321","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-orgpsych-110622-060758","article-title":"Electronic monitoring at work","volume":"12","year":"2025","journal-title":"Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104064","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijhm.2024.104064","article-title":"AI disruption threat and employee outcomes: Role of technology insecurity, thriving at work, and trait self-esteem","volume":"126","author":"Leong","year":"2025","journal-title":"International Journal of Hospitality Management"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"792","DOI":"10.3724\/SP.J.1041.2023.00792","article-title":"An examination of configural effects of employees\u2019 proactive behavior: A process perspective","volume":"55","author":"Li","year":"2023","journal-title":"Acta Psychologica Sinica"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"108092","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chb.2023.108092","article-title":"Facilitation or hindrance: The contingent effect of organizational artificial intelligence adoption on proactive career behavior","volume":"152","author":"Lin","year":"2024","journal-title":"Computers in Human Behavior"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"115541","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbusres.2025.115541","article-title":"Reaffirming oneself: Exploring how artificial intelligence introduction drives employee approach crafting through a self-affirmation lens","volume":"199","author":"Lin","year":"2025","journal-title":"Journal of Business Research"},{"key":"ref_27","first-page":"1","article-title":"Some ruminative thoughts","volume":"Vol. 9","author":"Wyer","year":"1996","journal-title":"Ruminative thoughts: Advances in social cognition"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"279","DOI":"10.1037\/apl0000044","article-title":"Are anxious workers less productive workers? It depends on the quality of social exchange","volume":"101","author":"McCarthy","year":"2016","journal-title":"Journal of Applied Psychology"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"129","DOI":"10.33095\/hv149002","article-title":"AI-driven decision-making in leadership: Balancing automation and human judgment for optimal organizational performance","volume":"31","author":"Mohammed","year":"2025","journal-title":"Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100208","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jjimei.2023.100208","article-title":"The adoption of artificial intelligence in human resources management practices","volume":"4","author":"Nawaz","year":"2024","journal-title":"International Journal of Information Management Data Insights"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"543","DOI":"10.1002\/job.633","article-title":"Work characteristics, challenge appraisal, creativity, and proactive behavior: A multi-level study","volume":"31","author":"Ohly","year":"2010","journal-title":"Journal of Organizational Behavior"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"827","DOI":"10.1177\/0149206310363732","article-title":"Making things happen: A model of proactive motivation","volume":"36","author":"Parker","year":"2010","journal-title":"Journal of Management"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1171","DOI":"10.1111\/apps.12241","article-title":"Automation, algorithms, and beyond: Why work design matters more than ever in a digital world","volume":"71","author":"Parker","year":"2022","journal-title":"Applied Psychology"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"879","DOI":"10.1037\/0021-9010.88.5.879","article-title":"Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies","volume":"88","author":"Podsakoff","year":"2003","journal-title":"Journal of Applied Psychology"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"341","DOI":"10.1037\/a0028552","article-title":"Exploring the relationship between work-related rumination, sleep quality, and work-related fatigue","volume":"17","author":"Querstret","year":"2012","journal-title":"Journal of Occupational Health Psychology"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"192","DOI":"10.5465\/amr.2018.0072","article-title":"Artificial intelligence and management: The automation\u2013augmentation paradox","volume":"46","author":"Raisch","year":"2021","journal-title":"Academy of Management Review"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1111\/peps.12514","article-title":"A meta-analysis of the effects of electronic performance monitoring on work outcomes","volume":"76","author":"Ravid","year":"2023","journal-title":"Personnel Psychology"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101170","DOI":"10.1016\/j.orgdyn.2025.101170","article-title":"From anxiety to advantage: Guiding employees to embrace AI at work","volume":"54","author":"Sarkar","year":"2025","journal-title":"Organizational Dynamics"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.32604\/jpa.2025.065761","article-title":"Does artificial intelligence (AI) anxiety increase employees\u2019 deviant behavior toward the organization? The role of emotional exhaustion and leadership support","volume":"35","author":"Sha","year":"2025","journal-title":"Journal of Psychology in Africa"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"518","DOI":"10.1037\/0021-9010.88.3.518","article-title":"Recovery, work engagement, and proactive behavior: A new look at the interface between nonwork and work","volume":"88","author":"Sonnentag","year":"2003","journal-title":"Journal of Applied Psychology"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"169","DOI":"10.1016\/j.riob.2018.11.002","article-title":"The recovery paradox: Portraying the complex interplay between job stressors, lack of recovery, and poor well-being","volume":"38","author":"Sonnentag","year":"2018","journal-title":"Research in Organizational Behavior"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"287","DOI":"10.1177\/1094428110369842","article-title":"Methodological urban legends: The misuse of statistical control variables","volume":"14","author":"Spector","year":"2010","journal-title":"Organizational Research Methods"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sun, C., Zhao, X., Guo, B., and Chen, N. (2025). Will employee\u2013AI collaboration enhance employees\u2019 proactive behavior? A study based on the conservation of resources theory. Behavioral Sciences, 15, (5).","DOI":"10.3390\/bs15050648"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100039","DOI":"10.1016\/j.stae.2023.100039","article-title":"Leadership for successful digitalization: A literature review on companies\u2019 internal and external aspects of digitalization","volume":"2","author":"Tagscherer","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sustainable Technology and Entrepreneurship"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1766","DOI":"10.1037\/apl0001103","article-title":"No person is an island: Unpacking the work and after-work consequences of interacting with artificial intelligence","volume":"108","author":"Tang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Journal of Applied Psychology"},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2311","DOI":"10.1108\/IJCHM-02-2023-0240","article-title":"Artificial intelligence (AI) awareness and work withdrawal: Evaluating chained mediation through negative work-related rumination and emotional exhaustion","volume":"36","author":"Teng","year":"2023","journal-title":"International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management"},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"375","DOI":"10.1177\/15480518241289644","article-title":"Artificial intelligence (AI) and workplace communication: Policies, perils, and recommended policy","volume":"31","author":"Gerpott","year":"2024","journal-title":"Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies"},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"80","DOI":"10.1177\/0020852316681446","article-title":"Operationalizing the definition of e-leadership: Identifying the elements of e-leadership","volume":"85","author":"Roman","year":"2019","journal-title":"International Review of Administrative Sciences"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wang, H.-Y., Liu, R.-H., and Ao, L. (2025). Transformational leadership and employee AI usage: The role of perceived organizational support and competitive workplace climate. Frontiers in Psychology, 16.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1581337"},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103860","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvb.2023.103860","article-title":"It is not only what you do, but why you do it: The role of attribution in employees\u2019 emotional and behavioral responses to illegitimate tasks","volume":"142","author":"Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Journal of Vocational Behavior"},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104031","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvb.2024.104031","article-title":"The threat of electronic performance monitoring: Exploring the role of leader-member exchange on employee privacy invasion","volume":"151","author":"Wolff","year":"2024","journal-title":"Journal of Vocational Behavior"},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1395","DOI":"10.1007\/s10869-024-09963-6","article-title":"The buffering role of workplace mindfulness: How job insecurity of human-artificial intelligence collaboration impacts employees\u2019 work\u2013life-related outcomes","volume":"39","author":"Wu","year":"2024","journal-title":"Journal of Business and Psychology"},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103912","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijhm.2024.103912","article-title":"Exploring the impacts of intention towards human-robot collaboration on frontline hotel employees\u2019 positive behavior: An integrative model","volume":"123","author":"Wu","year":"2024","journal-title":"International Journal of Hospitality Management"},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"276","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhtm.2025.02.005","article-title":"Navigating the human-artificial intelligence collaboration landscape: Impact on quality of work life and work engagement","volume":"62","author":"Wu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management"},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Xu, G., Xue, M., and Zhao, J. (2023). The relationship of artificial intelligence opportunity perception and employee workplace well-being: A moderated mediation model. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20, (3).","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20031974"},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yu, L., Li, Y., and Fan, F. (2023). Employees\u2019 appraisals and trust of artificial intelligences\u2019 transparency and opacity. Behavioral Sciences, 13, (4).","DOI":"10.3390\/bs13040344"},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zhang, Y., Gao, L., and Feng, Y. (2022). How does workplace event criticality spur employees\u2019 proactivity? The roles of work engagement and mindfulness. Frontiers in Psychology, 13.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2022.976213"},{"key":"ref_58","first-page":"289","article-title":"How does leadership AI awareness shape employee voice behavior? A study based on the framework of hindrance and challenge stressors","volume":"82","author":"Zhou","year":"2025","journal-title":"Work"}],"container-title":["Behavioral Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-328X\/16\/6\/987\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,19]],"date-time":"2026-06-19T04:38:00Z","timestamp":1781843880000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-328X\/16\/6\/987"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,13]]},"references-count":58,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6]]}},"alternative-id":["bs16060987"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/bs16060987","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-328X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-328X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,13]]}}}