Work-leisure conflict and quiet quitting in academia: The moderating role of servant leadership and the mediating role of work-related affective rumination
PSIHOLOGIJA, vol.59, no.3, pp.13, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 59 Issue: 3
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.2298/psi250626013a
- Journal Name: PSIHOLOGIJA
- Journal Indexes: Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Scopus, Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Central & Eastern European Academic Source (CEEAS), Psycinfo, Directory of Open Access Journals
- Page Numbers: pp.13
- Akdeniz University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Quiet quitting in academia can damage the quality of education, research productivity, scholarly communication, faculty members’ well-being, and institutional reputation. The need for recovery through leisure plays a key role in embracing quiet quitting; however, the existing literature lacks insight into the mechanism between work-leisure conflict and quiet quitting in academia. Based on the stressor-detachment model, this study focused on the relationship between work-leisure conflict and quiet quitting. This study further investigated the mediating role of work-related affective rumination and the moderating role of servant leadership to better understand the mechanism underlying this relationship. A cross-sectional design was employed with 527 faculty members from 20 universities in Istanbul. The findings demonstrated that (1) work-leisure conflict is positively associated with work-related affective rumination and quiet quitting; (2) work-related affective rumination is positively associated with quiet quitting; (3) work-related affective rumination mediates the relationship between work-leisure conflict and quiet quitting; and (4) servant leadership does not moderate the work-leisure conflict and work-related affective rumination relationship. These findings can provide insight into developing effective strategies and practices to prevent work-leisure conflict and quiet quitting in academia.