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The study aims to determine the impact of perceptual and attitudinal factors on employees’ counterproductive work behaviour (CWB). The study emphasises the verification of the direct, indirect, linear and non-linear effects of several antecedents of CWBs. The moderating role of self-efficacy is also investigated.

Data were collected from 1,215 employees from several industrial companies in Southern Iraq. The study used the hybrid approach to data analysis, based on a dual-stage SEM-ANN, i.e. partial least squares structural equation modelling and artificial neural network approach.

Results indicate that most of the proposed variables predict CWB and that abusive supervision and perceived organisational politics (POP) positively affect job burnout (JB) through job stress. In addition, non-linear relationships, JB, abusive supervision and POP are the most important in predicting CWB. The study confirms that a negative perception of the work environment increases the likelihood of harmful behaviours in the organisation and that self-efficacy can reduce such a perception.

The importance of the current study is summarised in its attempt to verify the antecedents of CWB by relying on a two-step approach to test linear and non-linear relationships. This approach will greatly enhance theories regarding adverse behaviour in the workplace, especially, with a fairly large sample size.