The Mediation Role of Organizational Identification on Emotional Intimacy and Collaborative Behaviors in Public and Private Organizations

Abstract

Our study aimed to examine whether the relationship between emotional intimacy and collaborative behaviors (i.e., helping behaviors and counterproductive behaviors) is mediated by organizational identification (cognitive and affective). These relationships were investigated both among public and private sector employees. The research was conducted on a sample of 269 employees (Mean age = 32.60), 128 participants from the public sector, and 141 from the private sector, average seniority at work = 64.87 months. A set of questionnaires was completed online and all participation was voluntary. The study used the convenience sampling method, and participants were recruited through the snowballing technique. The results indicated the mediating role of organizational identification on the relationship between emotional intimacy and collaborative, helping and counterproductive behaviors. Thus, the more people feel comfortable sharing their emotions at work and identify with the organization on a cognitive and/or affective level, the more they engage in helping behaviors directed toward colleagues and the organization, and at the same time, engagement decreases deviant behaviors. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of the study.