Title

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

Authors

Authors

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

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

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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