When and why organizational cynicism leads to CWBs
ISSN: 0048-3486
Article publication date: 16 April 2020
Issue publication date: 13 January 2021
Abstract
Purpose
Using conservation of resources theory (COR), the authors test the combined effects of cynicism and psychological capital on counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs) mediated through emotional exhaustion.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use a time-lagged independent source sample (N = 181) consisting of employee–peer dyads from service industry in Pakistan.
Findings
Moderated mediated regression analyses indicated that emotional exhaustion mediates the relationship between organizational cynicism and counterproductive work behaviors. Psychological capital moderates the relationship between organizational cynicism and emotional exhaustion such that organizational cynicism is positively related to exhaustion when psychological capital is low. Furthermore, conditional indirect effects show that emotional exhaustion mediates the relationship between organizational cynicism and counterproductive work behaviors only when employees' psychological capital is low.
Originality/value
The study suggests new mechanisms and boundary conditions through which cynicism triggers CWBs. The authors discuss the implications of the study’s findings and suggest possible directions for future research.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: Current Research did not include formal financial funding and/or support. The author(s) declare that the preparation of this manuscript was not supported by any external funding and is a mere effort of the authors included.
Citation
Naseer, S., Raja, U., Syed, F. and Baig, M.U.A. (2021), "When and why organizational cynicism leads to CWBs", Personnel Review, Vol. 50 No. 1, pp. 90-107. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-09-2019-0480
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited