Facades of conformity and cyberloafing: a moderated mediation model
Journal of Managerial Psychology
ISSN: 0268-3946
Article publication date: 12 September 2023
Issue publication date: 17 October 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Despite previous research highlighting the consequences of facades of conformity (FOC) on attitudes, emotions and feelings, little is known about their negative effects on behaviors. This study draws on the job stress process model to examine the association between FOC and cyberloafing and explores how anxiety functions as an underlying mechanism affecting cyberloafing.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 185 employees from Chinese organizations participated in a two-wave questionnaire survey.
Findings
The study found a positive relationship between FOC and cyberloafing and noted that anxiety mediates this relationship. The research also identified that performance–avoidance goal orientation moderates the relationship between FOC and anxiety, as well as the indirect effects of the FOC–cyberloafing relationship via anxiety.
Practical implications
The research findings demonstrate that FOC is positively associated with anxiety and cyberloafing. The disruptive nature of FOC in the workplace has been revealed. Furthermore, this study provides valuable suggestions for managers on how to reduce employee FOC and cyberloafing.
Originality/value
Using the job stress process model, this study investigates whether (main effect), how (a mediating mechanism) and when (boundary condition) FOC drives cyberloafing, deepening the understanding of the relationship between FOC and cyberloafing.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge financial supports from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No: 71872117).
Citation
Ye, H. and Qian, X. (2023), "Facades of conformity and cyberloafing: a moderated mediation model", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 38 No. 7, pp. 480-495. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-05-2022-0256
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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