Doomscrolling political news during your downtime predicts reduced engagement at work
Consuming political news outside of work is associated with how employees feel on the job. A new study suggests negative media predicts workplace anxiety, while positive content is linked to increased hope and helpfulness.
A new study has found that consuming political news outside of work may impact an employee's engagement and behavior at work. The research, published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior, reveals that exposure to negative political content can lead to increased anxiety and reduced work engagement, while positive political news is associated with elevated hope and increased helpfulness on the job.
The emotional impact of political news appears to carry over from personal time into the workplace, influencing professional behavior. Researchers recruited 308 full-time workers in the United States over a nine-week period during the 2024 presidential primary season. Participants reported their consumption of positive and negative political information during non-work hours and their feelings of hope, anxiety, work engagement, and likelihood to help colleagues.
The study found that increased consumption of negative political news was linked to higher anxiety, lower work engagement, and a greater tendency to self-censor at work. Conversely, higher exposure to positive political content was associated with increased hope, improved work engagement, and a stronger motivation to assist coworkers.
The findings suggest that the boundary between personal media consumption and professional life is blurred, and individuals should be aware of how their news habits may influence their emotions and behavior at work.
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