Core self-evaluations and organizational citizenship behaviors: situational appraisals and actions

Abstract

Since its introduction over two decades ago, core self-evaluations (CSEs) have received extensive consideration from management scholars. While CSEs have been directly linked to workplace outcomes, less is understood regarding the mediating mechanisms through which CSEs are related to workplace outcomes. In this study, we examine the process though which CSEs promote favorable outcomes by examining the mediating role of both leader-member exchange (LMX) quality and work engagement in the CSE—organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) relationship. We hypothesize that the relationship between CSEs and OCBs are mediated by the quality of the individual’s relationship with their leader (i.e., LMX quality) and their level of work engagement. Our results provide broad support for the hypothesized mediation relationships whereby CSEs are indirectly related to OCBs through both LMX quality and work engagement. A discussion of these findings and their implications for both theory and practice is provided.