Abstract: Based on the Theory of Stress Cognitive Activation, this paper explains how negative gossip in the workplace affects the gossip target employees' job crafting behavior. Through a longitudinal follow-up survey of 395 employees over a period of 6 weeks, the following hypotheses are empirically supported: 1) Negative workplace gossip positively influences the affective rumination of the gossip goal; affective rumination negatively influences the job crafting behavior of the gossip goal; and the relationship between negative workplace gossip and job crafting behavior is mediated by emotional rumination; 2) Negative workplace gossip positively influences the problem-solving pondering of the gossip goal; problem-solving pondering positively influences the job crafting behavior of the gossip goal; and the relationship between negative workplace gossip and job crafting behavior is mediated by problem-solving pondering; 3) The relationship between negative workplace gossip and affective rumination is negatively moderated by self-monitoring ability, while the relationship between negative workplace gossip and problem-solving pondering is positively moderated by self-monitoring ability; 4) The mediating roles of affective rumination/problem solving pondering in the relationship between negative workplace gossip and job crafting are moderated by self-monitoring ability.

Key words: negative workplace gossip, affective rumination, problem-solving pondering, job crafting, self-monitoring ability