Conservation of resources theory perspective of social media ostracism influence on lurking intentions

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study develops and tests a model based on the conservation of resources theory and presents an underlying mechanism linking social media ostracism with the lurking intentions of social media users. The proposed model suggests that emotional exhaustion is a mediating mechanism linking social media ostracism to lurking intentions. In addition, we examine whether or not the psychological resilience of social media users serves as a boundary condition that weakens the effects of social media ostracism on emotional exhaustion. Results of a moderated mediation analysis based on a sample of 363 employees in China support the conceptual model. Empirical findings likewise reveal that social media ostracism positively predicts emotional exhaustion among social media users. In addition, results indicate that emotional exhaustion is a mediating mechanism that links social media ostracism with lurking intentions. Furthermore, we find that psychological resilience plays a moderating role and weakens the positive effect of social media ostracism on emotional exhaustion. Theoretical contributions and practical implications of this study are also presented.