Title

Optimism And The Nonlinear Citizenship Behavior-Job Satisfaction Relationship In Three Studies

Keywords

extra-role performance; job satisfaction; nonlinear; optimism; organizational citizenship behavior

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. © The Author(s) 2010.

Publication Date

10-12-2010

Publication Title

Journal of Management

Volume

36

Issue

6

Number of Pages

1505-1528

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206309350085

Socpus ID

77957656715 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/77957656715

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