Optimism and the Nonlinear Citizenship Behavior-Job Satisfaction Relationship in Three Studies

    Authors

    T. P. Munyon; W. A. Hochwarter; P. L. Perrewe;G. R. Ferris

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Manag.

    Keywords

    organizational citizenship behavior; extra-role performance; job; satisfaction; optimism; nonlinear; POSITIVE ORGANIZATIONAL-BEHAVIOR; SOCIAL NETWORK DEVELOPMENT; DISPOSITIONAL OPTIMISM; FUTURE-RESEARCH; PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT; CONTEXTUAL PERFORMANCE; IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT; CONCEPTUAL-FRAMEWORK; TASK-PERFORMANCE; PLANNED BEHAVIOR; Business; Psychology, Applied; Management

    Abstract

    Despite a voluminous body of work demonstrating the positive benefits of organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB), recent theory has highlighted the potential trade-offs individuals face when performing such activities. This evidence calls into consideration the "more is always better" philosophy, suggesting the existence of potentially more complex OCB-work outcome relationships. The present research investigates the interactive relationship between optimism and OCB on job satisfaction in a series of three independent samples, examining moderated polynomial relationships. Based on self-regulation and self-perception theories, the authors hypothesized that optimism would moderate the relationship between OCB and job satisfaction, demonstrating a linear relationship for those high in optimism and a nonlinear relationship (i.e., assuming an inverted U-shaped form) for those low in optimism. Consistent results were found across all three studies, providing support for the hypothesized moderated polynomial OCB-optimism relationship. Contributions of the research are discussed, as are strengths and limitations, directions for future research, and practical implications.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Management

    Volume

    36

    Issue/Number

    6

    Publication Date

    1-1-2010

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    1505

    Last Page

    1528

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000282521000007

    ISSN

    0149-2063

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