Can’t Help Myself: Self-Regulation Failure as a Moderator of the POPS–Work Outcomes Relationships

Abstract

Drawing upon cognitive control theory, we examined the effects of self- regulation failure on perceptions of politics – work outcome relationships in two studies. In Study 1, we hypothesized that self-regulation failure would moderate the relationship between perceptions of politics and the workplace outcomes of job satisfaction, job effort, job tension, and emotional exhaustion. Specifically, we predicted that high levels of self-regulation failure would exacerbate the strength of the relationship between perceptions of politics and workplace outcomes. Study 1 data were gathered from 166 Chinese hotel administrators involved in development programs. After controlling for demographic factors (i.e., age, gender, organizational tenure) and main effect terms (i.e., perceptions of politics and self-regulation failure), we found support for our hypotheses that self-regulation failure moderated the relationships between perceptions of politics and job satisfaction, job effort, job tension, and emotional exhaustion. Study 2 served as a constructive replication and extension of Study 1. Using a sample of data from 390 U.S. workers, we found self-regulation failure moderated the relationships between perceptions of politics and job satisfaction, job tension, job effort, emotional exhaustion, perceived resource availability, and job performance. The form and magnitude of the interactions in both studies supported the hypotheses. Implications of these results for multiple literatures, practical implications, strengths and limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.