Reduced self-worth: an investigation of why and when coworker undermining facilitates employee interpersonal deviance. Issue 1 (29th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Quan, Jing; Mao, Jih-Yu; Shi, Yujie; Liang, Xiao
• Is Part Of: Nankai business review international. Volume 13:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 154
• Page End: 170
• Publication Date: 2021-10-29
• Subjects: Coworker undermining -- Organization-based self-esteem -- Interpersonal deviance -- Relational-interdependent self-construal -- Social exchange theory; Industrial management -- China -- Periodicals; Business enterprises -- China -- Periodicals; 658.40095105
• DOI: 10.1108/NBRI-07-2021-0046
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-8749

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: This study investigates why and when undermined employees exhibit deviant behavior toward coworkers. Drawing upon social exchange theory, coworker undermining reduces employee organization-based self-esteem (OBSE), which in turn, fosters employee negative reciprocal behavior in the form of interpersonal deviance. In addition, this study examines the moderating role of relational-interdependent self-construal (RISC) in affecting the indirect effect. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from a two-wave survey. Participants were 316 employees of a service company in western China. Ordinary least squares regressions were used to test the hypothesized relationships. Findings: Coworker undermining is positively related to employee interpersonal deviance, mediated by decreased employee OBSE. In addition, this indirect relationship is more salient for employees with a higher than lower RISC. Originality/value: This study suggests that employee OBSE serves as an explanation for why coworker undermining leads to employees' antagonistic consequences. Furthermore, this study highlights the boundary-condition role of RISC in the influence process.