From Positive Work-Reflection to Positive Affect – Validation of a Measure of Work-Related Basking in Off-Job Time

Although work-related rumination is by definition neutral in affective terms, most constructs emphasize the absence of ruminative thoughts (psychological detachment), negative ways of thinking about work (e.g., negative work-reflection) or negative affect while thinking about work (e.g., affective rumination). The only construct explicitly tapping into positive ways of thinking about work is positive work-reflection. We develop and validate a scale measuring positive affect while thinking about work in off-job time. We label this construct “work-related basking” and study the discriminant validity with regard to similar constructs. Furthermore, we examine the predictive validity with regard to energetic well-being vis-à-vis these similar constructs.