Three-way Interaction effect of Workplace Aggression, Income, and Gender on Workplace Withdrawal in the Hotel Industry

Abstract

ABSTRACT By drawing on three prominent theories, namely: theory of belongingness, social role theory and incentive theory of motivation, this article investigates a three-way interaction of tolerance to workplace aggression, income and gender to predict workplace withdrawal behavior. A structural equation modeling was applied to data obtained from employees in the hospitality industry. Result shows that employees respond to tolerance to workplace aggression with increased workplace withdrawal. Gender and income moderated the proposed relationship. Specifically, men with high income are less likely to engage in workplace withdrawal behavior when tolerance to workplace aggression is high than men with low income. Tolerance to workplace aggression is more likely to predict workplace withdrawal behavior among women with low income than those with high income. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.