Not All Job Demands Are Equal: Differentiating the Effects of Challenge and Hindrance Job Demands on Employee Creativity

Abstract

Drawing on Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, we hypothesized and tested a moderated mediation process linking challenge-hindrance job demands to employee creativity. Data were obtained from 406 supervisor-subordinate dyads in a group company in China. The results showed that challenge job demands were negatively related to emotional exhaustion, but positively related to work engagement and employee creativity. Hindrance job demands were positively related to emotional exhaustion, but negatively related to work engagement and employee creativity. Emotional exhaustion and work engagement mediated the relationships between challenge-hindrance job demands and employee creativity. This study provided important insights into mechanisms about job demands on employee creativity.