Significant task activates trait gratitude for organizational citizenship behaviors: The mediating role of psychological availability

Abstract

ABSTRACT The benefits of gratitude are universally recognized in psychology and other disciplines. However, the capacity for trait gratitude to bring advantages to employees and organizations is an under-explored area despite the fact that trait gratitude could offer considerable benefits to organizational performance and success through its potential impact on organizational citizenship behaviours (OCBs). Based on trait activation theory, a model was put forward to examine the influence of trait gratitude on OCBs through the impact that trait gratitude has upon psychological availability. Additionally, task significance was explored as a moderator of the relationship between trait gratitude and psychological availability. The model was tested across two studies. Study 1 involved a multi-phase and multi-source survey of 178 leader-member dyads from a chemical company and an electricity firm. Study 2 was a preregistered experiment involving 205 full-time employees from a range of industries including finance, retailing, entertainment, information technology, law, engineering and other industries. In both studies the mediated moderation model of workplace trait gratitude on OCBs was supported. Limitations, implications for research and practice are addressed.