Workplace mindfulness mediation and moderation in relationships between media multitasking and various outcomes

The mechanisms underlying at-work media multitasking to its psychological, physical, and behavioral consequences remain poorly understood. This study uses the Stressor-Detachment Model as a conceptual framework and aims to address this gap by examining the effects of media multitasking on various outcomes, with state mindfulness as a mediator and trait mindfulness as a moderator of these relationships. This study employs an experience sampling method to collect data from 97 full-time employees. Participants received five survey links each workday over a 2‐week period, resulting in 916 days‐level and 2,864 data points. HLM and multilevel SEM were used to test hypotheses. Results indicate that state mindfulness mediates the relationship between media multitasking and happiness, emotional exhaustion, general health, job performance, and innovative work behaviors. Additionally, trait mindfulness moderated the relationships between media multitasking and happiness, job performance, and innovative work behaviors. Moreover, sleep quality from the previous night significantly influenced state mindfulness and other psychological, physical, and behavioral consequences experienced the next day. This research advances the Stressor-Detachment Model and contributes to workplace mindfulness literature while informing organizational interventions designed to mitigate the negative effects of multitasking, supporting employee well-being, reducing workplace stress, and enhancing behavioral health, in increasingly digitalized work environments.