From good soldiers to happy employees: Exploring the emotional and well-being outcomes of organizational citizenship behavior

Abstract

Building upon conservation of resources theory and affective event theory, this study broadens the organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) literature by investigating the effects of two forms of OCB on employees' positive emotion, perceived role overload, and quality of work-life (QWL). Based on data collected from 321 hotel employees in China, the study findings indicate that engaging in organizational citizenship behavior toward the organization (OCBO) generates positive emotions, consequently affecting employees' QWL. Similarly, performing organizational citizenship behavior toward individuals in the organization (OCBI) has a positive impact on employees' positive emotions. Moreover, the results reveal a negative relationship between OCBO, and employees perceived role overload, suggesting that employees may achieve resource acquisition and alleviate role overload through OCB. The study findings make valuable theoretical contributions and provide meaningful empirical implications for hospitality organizations.