The Role of Time in Time Pressure: Dual Pathways Between Time Pressure and Engagement

Abstract

The study of time pressure in organizations has yielded inconsistent findings in the extant literature. We posit that these seemingly inconsistent results can be understood through dual mediating mechanisms and by accounting for different temporal dynamics. Integrating the transactional model of stress with temporal theory, the present research seeks to explore the short-term nature of dual cognitive and emotional mechanisms underlying the time pressure- engagement relationship. In a diary study (N=192, 5 consecutive days), LGM results indicated that at the episodic level, challenge stress appraisal and anxiety sequentially and positively mediate the effect of time pressure on work engagement, while hindrance appraisal and hope negatively mediate the effect of time pressure in sequence. In contrast, at the chronic level, challenge appraisal and hope in sequence positively mediate the effect of time pressure on work engagement, while hindrance appraisal and anxiety negatively mediate the effect of sequentially. This research provides evidence that time pressure simultaneously exerts challenge and hindering effects and sheds light on key temporal boundaries of the transactional model of stress.