Workaholism and incivility: stress and psychological capital’s role

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships among incivility, stress, workaholism, and psychological capital (PsyCap).

Design/methodology/approach

Data on incivility, stress, workaholism, and PsyCap were collected, through administration of an online survey, from 168 employees.

Findings

Workaholism and stress were positively related to uncivil behaviors, while PsyCap was negatively linked to incivility. Additionally, workaholism was positively associated with stress and negatively related to PsyCap. Finally, PsyCap acted as a mediator between workaholism and uncivil behaviors.

Research limitations/implications

Future researchers should obtain a larger number of minority participants, assess the instigators of incivility, and implement a longitudinal model.

Practical implications

Managers should focus on reducing stress and uncivil behaviors, and implement interventions to reduce workaholism and stress and increase PsyCap.

Originality/value

It is the first study to examine measurable traits that are likely to lead to negative behaviors, and includes an emotional tool, PsyCap, that can be developed to limit the negative influence of incivility on the organization.

Citation

Lanzo, L., Aziz, S. and Wuensch, K. (2016), "Workaholism and incivility: stress and psychological capital’s role", International Journal of Workplace Health Management, Vol. 9 No. 2, pp. 165-183. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-08-2015-0051