The Competitive Conundrum: Exploring Multilevel Competitive Influences on Stress and Well-Being

Abstract

Competitiveness is an important personality trait that has been studied in various disciplines and has been shown to predict critical work outcomes at the individual level. Despite this, the role of competitiveness in groups and teams has received scant attention amongst organizational researchers. Aiming to promote future research on the role of competitiveness as both an adaptive and maladaptive trait – particularly in the context of work – the authors review competitiveness and its effects on individual and team stress and Well-Being, giving special attention to the processes of cohesion and conflict and situational moderators. The authors illustrate a dynamic multilevel model of individual and team difference factors, competitive processes, and individual and team outcomes to highlight competitiveness as a consequential occupational stressor. Furthermore, the authors discuss the feedback loops that inform the different factors, highlight important avenues for future research, and offer practical solutions for managers to reduce unhealthy competition.

Citation

Fezzey, T.N.A. and Gabrielle Swab, R. (2024), "The Competitive Conundrum: Exploring Multilevel Competitive Influences on Stress and Well-Being", Harms, P.D. and Chang, C.-H.(D). (Ed.) Stress and Well-Being in Teams (Research in Occupational Stress and Well Being, Vol. 22), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 17-52. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-355520240000022002