Moderated Mediation Model Research Articles

Workplace mistreatments by the management toward employees and its behavioral consequences

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the impact of organizational mistreatments, such as workplace bullying and ostracism, on task performance. Additionally, it explores the mediating role of cyber loafing and the moderating role of negative reciprocity beliefs.Design/methodology/approachAdopting a positivism research philosophy and a deductive approach, this study focuses on the petroleum sector-related organizations where enterprise resource planning requires active Internet use, potentially leading to cyber loafing. Data were collected from employees using purposive sampling techniques, resulting in a sample size of 248. The data analysis was conducted using AMOS and SPSS software.FindingsThe results indicate that cyber loafing fully mediates the relationship between workplace bullying and ostracism on task performance. Additionally, negative reciprocity beliefs significantly moderate the relationship between workplace bullying, ostracism and cyber loafing.Originality/valueThis study presents a moderated-mediation model of organizational mistreatments and task performance, elucidating the mechanisms through the mediating role of cyber loafing and the moderating role of negative reciprocity beliefs.

Enhancing employee job satisfaction through organizational climate and employee happiness at work: a mediated–moderated model

BackgroundThe Chinese educational sector is dynamic; hence, there is a need to anchor the factors that influence faculty job satisfaction and performance. These are channeled through organizational climate (OrgC) and employee happiness (EmH). The growing integration of artificial intelligence applications (AIAs)—like ChatGPT—into the learning environment raises questions about AIAs’ moderating role in the relationship between EmH at work and EJoS.PurposeThis research empirically examines the influence of OrgC on EmH, the direct and mediated impacts of EmH on EJoS, and the moderating effect of AIAs on the influence of EmH on EJoS.Design/MethodologyData was collected from faculty members of various Chinese universities. Using SmartPLS version 4.1, I have analyzed six hypotheses and the corresponding research questions.FindingsThe outcomes include favorable effects of OrgC on EmH and EJoS. EmH significantly correlates with EJoS, partially mediating the relationship between OrgC and EJoS. Interestingly, the research did not find evidence that AIAs moderated the relationship (ChatGPT) between EmH and EJoS. The predictors (OrgC and EmH) and moderation of AIAs explained a 51.9% change in EJoS, and EJoS explained a 13.3% variance in employee job performance.ConclusionThis study’s findings support a supportive OrgC as the key instrument for improving employees’ happiness and job satisfaction. AI assistants, such as ChatGPT, provide relative efficiency and support but do not significantly affect how EmH at work relates to job satisfaction.

Anxiety and Academic Procrastination in Deaf and Hard of Hearing College Students: A Moderated Mediation Model

Deaf and hard of hearing college students encounter unique challenges and pressures in their daily lives and academic pursuits, often leading to heightened anxiety levels, which may increase the likelihood of academic procrastination. This study aims to investigate the relationship between anxiety and academic procrastination in deaf and hard of hearing college students, with a focus on the mediating role of rumination and the moderating effect of psychological resilience. The findings offer valuable insights into strategies for reducing anxiety and academic procrastination in this population. A total of 685 deaf and hard of hearing college students were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Academic Procrastination Scale, Rumination Scale, and Psychological Resilience Scale. The study revealed three key findings: (1) Anxiety is a significant positive predictor of academic procrastination in deaf and hard of hearing college students; (2) Rumination partially mediates the relationship between anxiety and academic procrastination, suggesting that anxiety indirectly influences procrastination through rumination; (3) Psychological resilience moderates the relationship between rumination and academic procrastination, with higher levels of resilience diminishing the impact of rumination on procrastination. The findings of this study provide a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between anxiety and procrastination in deaf and hard of hearing college students, within the context of ecosystem theory and resilience theory of development.

The impact of leadership of head nurses on the research performance of highly educated nurses in China: a moderated mediation model

BackgroundNursing leadership by head nurses is critical to enhancing nursing research activity and performance in hospitals but the impact mechanism is unclear.AimTo investigate the effect of nursing leadership of head nurses on research burnout, self-efficacy, and performance of highly-educated nurses in the hospital.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted and electronic questionnaires were distributed online. An online data analysis tool SPSSAU was adopted to conduct descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and structural equation model construction. This study adhered to the STROBE guideline.ResultsA total of 1918 questionnaires were collected in this survey. The results indicated that nursing research leadership of head nurses (β = 0.094, p < 0.001) could directly affect the research performance of highly-educated nurses or indirectly via research burnout (β1 = -0.287, p < 0.001, β2 = -0.071, p = 0.002). The indirect effect accounted for 12.74% of the total mediating effect. The research self-efficacy of highly-educated nurses was a moderator in the mediation model, and research leadership had no significant effect on research performance when the self-efficacy of nurses was low, while the direct effect [BM-SD = -0.041, CI(-0.098,0.017) vs BM = 0.094, CI(0.051,0.138) vs BM+SD = 0.229, CI(0.171,0.287)] of research leadership and the inderct effect [BM-SD = -0.004, CI(-0.021,0.012) vs BM = 0.010, CI(0.004,0.018) vs BM+SD = -0.031, CI(-0.051,-0.012)] of research burnout existed when the research self-efficacy was in mean and high level.ConclusionsResearch leadership of head nurses and self-efficacy of highly-educated nurses are crucial to enhancing nursing research performance in the hospitals.

Leveraging green artificial intelligence for green competitive advantage: testing a mediated moderation model

PurposeIn today’s competitive business landscape, organizations are increasingly recognizing the strategic advantage of implementing sustainable practices to gain a competitive edge. This study aims to investigate the effect of green artificial intelligence (AI) on achieving a green competitive advantage, examining the mediating roles of green organizational learning, green product innovation and green process innovation. Additionally, the research explores the moderating role of perceived green climate in the relationship between green AI and these mediating factors.Design/methodology/approachThis research examined companies in Isfahan, Iran, that have varying levels of artificial intelligence adoption within their business processes. The target population consisted of 148 senior managers from these companies. This study uses structural equation modeling to examine the proposed model.FindingsGreen AI positively impacted green organizational learning and green process innovation but not green product innovation. In addition, the results showed that green organizational learning, green product innovation and green process innovation had positive effects on green competitive advantage. Finally, the results showed that the perceived green climate did not play a moderating role in the relationship between green AI and these mediating factors.Practical implicationsOrganizations should prioritize green AI initiatives, foster a culture of green learning and invest in green innovation to achieve sustainable growth and outpace competitors in the environmentally conscious marketplace.Originality/valueThis study positions itself at the forefront of research on green AI and green competitive advantage. It offers a unique framework by examining the combined effects of green AI, green learning and both product and process innovation on achieving a sustainable competitive advantage.

Building Psychological Capital: Role of Perceived Authentic Organization Behavior and Perceived Inclusion

This study investigates the mediating role of perceived inclusion in the relationship between perceived authentic organizational behavior (AOB) and psychological capital, while examining the moderating influence of leader-member exchange (LMX) on the link between perceived AOB and perceived inclusion. Employing a quantitative, cross-sectional design, data were gathered from employees of Islamic banks across six major cities in Pakistan (N=254). Using structural equation modeling (SEM) in AMOS, we tested a moderated mediation model. Results indicated that perceived AOB positively influenced psychological capital through perceived inclusion, which served as a significant mediator in this relationship. However, the moderating effect of LMX on the AOB-inclusion relationship was not supported. This study addresses a notable gap in the literature by examining antecedents of psychological capital, focusing specifically on AOB, rather than the extensively studied construct of authentic leadership. Grounded in social exchange and LMX theories, this research contributes novel insights by applying a moderated mediation model within the distinct context of Islamic banking in Pakistan, offering implications for understanding organizational behavior and employee well-being in culturally specific work settings.

How does augmented reality enhance brand equity? The mediating role of the vividness experience

PurposeAdvancements in augmented reality (AR) technology have increased the interest in improving brand equity by creating AR-enhanced branding experiences. However, despite the potential of AR branding, knowledge regarding the underlying mechanisms required for AR features to build brand equity remains limited. Thus, we considered embodied cognition theory to investigate how designing AR features enhances brand equity, particularly through the vivid experience of AR-enhanced body–environment interaction. Specifically, this study focused on both environmental and physical AR features: environmental embedding (EE) and simulated physical control (SPC).Design/methodology/approachThe results of an online experiment with 297 participants in a 2 (high/low EE) × 2 (high/low SPC) between-subjects design underwent analysis of covariance and structural equation modeling to examine the relationship between AR features, vividness and brand equity. We also examined the moderating effects of prior AR experiences.FindingsThe results support most hypotheses that the experience of vividness is a crucial mediator linking AR features (EE and SPC) and consumer-based brand equity. The findings confirm the influential role of prior AR experience in the moderated mediation model, implying that AR-enhanced brand equity occurs primarily among technically adept AR consumers.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by identifying AR-enhanced body–environment interactions as a novel approach for enhancing brand equity. We also revealed the antecedents of vividness in the context of AR-enhanced branding. Moreover, the findings reveal that AR effects are contingent on consumers’ prior AR experience.

Green high-performance work systems and green service innovation: moderated mediation model of decent work and climate change skepticism

Green high-performance work systems and green service innovation: moderated mediation model of decent work and climate change skepticism

The Association of Sleep Disturbance, Depression, and Kin Social Support With the College Adjustment of African American Students: A Moderated Mediation Model

This investigation examined whether the indirect association of sleep disturbance with college adjustment through depression was moderated by kin social support among African American college students. The study was grounded in the Integrative Model for the Study of Developmental Competencies in Minority Children (IM), which maintains that kin support promotes adaptive functioning of ethnic minority children and adults and moderates the effects of stressful experiences on adjustment. The hypotheses were assessed with online questionnaires administered to 152 African American college students (83% female, Mage = 21.7, SDage = 4.6). The findings revealed a significant indirect effect of sleep disturbance on college adjustment through depressive symptoms. Kin support moderated indirect effect, such that sleep disturbance was significantly associated with college adjustment through depressive symptoms, at low and moderate, but not high levels of kin support. The results suggest that it may be beneficial to incorporate sleep education among the student services administered on campuses. Developing mechanisms to link family and other sources of support with students’ campus life may be important for African American college students’ adjustment.

Trust in Sustainability: Unraveling the CSR‐Performance Nexus Through Organizational Trust and Past Performance in the Banking Sector

ABSTRACTThis research examines the effects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on the performance of a prominent commercial bank in South Korea, with a specific focus on how organizational trust mediates this relationship and how previous performance moderates it. Anchored in the Warmth and Competence theory and the micro‐foundations perspective on CSR, we develop a moderated mediation model to delineate the intricate interactions among these variables. Employing a time‐lagged research design and gathering multi‐level, multi‐source data from 5223 employees across 520 bank branches, our findings reveal that CSR positively and indirectly influences financial performance by bolstering organizational trust. Additionally, our results pinpoint past financial performance as a crucial moderator in the CSR‐trust dynamic, indicating that the trust‐enhancing impact of CSR intensifies in organizations with a history of high performance. By elucidating the mediating role of trust and the conditional effect of past financial performance, this study advances a deeper understanding of the circumstances and mechanisms through which CSR affects organizational outcomes. These insights are vital for understanding CSR's role in promoting sustainable development within organizations. By fostering trust and enhancing performance, CSR initiatives can support organizations in establishing enduring, mutually advantageous relationships with stakeholders, thereby fostering the creation of sustainable value for both businesses and the broader community. This study underscores the importance of a multi‐level, context‐aware approach to CSR that recognizes both the micro‐level foundations and the macro‐level contingencies of socially responsible activities as drivers of sustainable organizational development.

TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR: A MODERATION MEDIATION MECHANISM OF ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the mediation effect of knowledge sharing on the relationship between transformational leadership and innovation. The moderating role of organisational culture was also tested on the relationship between transformational leadership and knowledge sharing. Theoretical Framework: This investigation is based on the transformational leadership theory. Transformational leaders inspire people to share knowledge and create a work environment that is supported by a conducive organisational culture. Method: Based on extensive literature review, a structured questionnaire was designed, and data were collected via Google forms from a total of 510 manufacturing sector employees based in three SADC region countries. Statistical analyses were done using SMART PLS 4. Results and Discussion: The study established that while transformational leadership had a significant positive impact on innovation, knowledge sharing partially mediated the relationship between the two variables. Organisational culture had a weak but positive impact on the relationship between transformational leadership and knowledge sharing.These results support prior research findings. Research Implications: Transformational Leadership and knowledge sharing were found to be positively associated with innovation, hence, theoretically, this study validates the antecedents of innovation in a manufacturing sector context. Practically, managers in the SADC manufacturing sector must exhibit attributes of transformational leadership whilst creating a conducive organisational culture that supports knowledge sharing. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by proposing and validating a mediation-moderation model that supports the impact of transformational leadership on innovation. The relevance and value of this research is evidenced by an improvement in the quality of exportable products from the SADC manufacturing sector through the transformative efforts of organisational leaders.

The Impact of Workplace Spirituality on Educational Staff’s Knowledge Sharing Intentions at Private Universities: A Mediation-Moderation Model

This study aims to examine the impact of spirituality in the workplace on knowledge-sharing intention, with trust as the mediating variable and gender as the moderating variable. The sample consisted of 249 education personnel from private universities in Central Java selected through convenience sampling. Hypothesis testing in this study was conducted using the PLS-SEM analysis tool. The results showed that spirituality in the workplace significantly affects knowledge-sharing intention. Furthermore, the findings show that trust mediates the effect of workplace spirituality on knowledge-sharing intention, and gender moderates the effect of workplace spirituality on knowledge-sharing intention.

The impact of nurses' stress situation coping on somatization: a mediated moderation model.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of nurses' stress situation coping levels on somatization symptoms, the mediating effect of depression, and the moderating effect of perceived social support. As a core part of the global healthcare system, nurses are crucial to patient health and rehabilitation outcomes. However, due to heavy workloads, unreasonable staffing structures, and constant exposure to occupational risks in their workplaces, these factors often place nurses in a high-intensity, high-stress environment, which directly affects their physical and mental health and professional burnout. Coping with stress situations is an important means to help individuals effectively manage stress, reduce negative impacts, and maintain mental health. However, research on the impact of nurses' stress situation coping methods on somatization symptoms is limited. This study conducted a cross-sectional survey from December 2022 to April 2023, and finally included 293 nurses working on the front line of tertiary hospitals. Data was collected through questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS 24.0 and the SPSS macro program's Models 7 and 14. This study is an observational study, strictly prepared and presented according to the STROBE checklist. The somatization symptom scores of the nurses were (27.27 ± 7.33) points, the stress situation coping scores were (59.90 ± 9.64) points, the perceived social support scores were (65.64 ± 12.90) points, and the depression scores were (4.42 ± 4.12) points. The somatization symptom scores of the nurses were positively correlated with the stress situation coping scores and depression scores, and negatively correlated with the perceived social support scores, with correlation coefficients of 0.200, 0.851, and -0.302, respectively. The stress coping level of the nurses had a direct positive impact on somatization symptoms (β = 0.081, p = 0.009), and a direct positive impact on nurse depression (β = 0.202, p = 0.001). Depression had a significant positive impact on somatization symptoms (β = 0.823, p = 0.000), and depression played a mediating role. Perceived social support had a significant negative impact on depression (β = -0.383, p = 0.000). Perceived social support had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between the stress situation coping level and depression (β = -0.121, p = 0.003). In this study, the stress situation coping methods of nurses had a positive impact on somatization symptoms, had a complete mediating effect on the depression level of nurses, and perceived social support had a significant moderating effect in the pathway from the stress situation coping methods of nurses to depression-mediated somatization symptoms.

The association between parental neuroticism and behavioral problems of Chinese children with autism spectrum disorder: a moderated mediation model

Objectives This study examined the direct and indirect effects of parental neuroticism on the internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and how the effect of the mediator (parental burnout) was influenced by the level of family functioning (moderator) in a Chinese context. Methods Data were collected from a sample of 664 parents of children with ASD in Hubei, Jiangsu, and Shandong provinces using standardized questionnaires to assess parental neuroticism, parental burnout, family functioning, and children’s behavioral problems. Correlation and moderated mediation analysis were employed using the PROCESS macro in SPSS. Results The findings revealed that parental neuroticism was positively associated with both internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems in children with ASD, with parental burnout serving as a mediator in this relationship. Furthermore, family functioning moderated the impact of parental neuroticism on parental burnout, with lower family functioning exacerbating this effect. Conclusions These results underscore the importance of addressing parental neuroticism and burnout while enhancing family functioning to improve behavioral outcomes for children with ASD. The study provides valuable insights for developing targeted interventions aimed at supporting families and mitigating behavioral problems in children with ASD.

Sharing employee management practices and work well-being: a moderated mediation model of organizational commitment and job autonomy

Sharing employee management practices and work well-being: a moderated mediation model of organizational commitment and job autonomy

Why do leaders reject employee voice: a job demands-resources and conservation of resources approach

PurposeBased on the job demands-resources model (JD-R model) and conservation of resources (COR) approach, this study aims to examine how role overload and leader–leader exchange (LLX) affect leaders’ voice rejection, and explore when the positive relationship between role overload and voice rejection is weakened.Design/methodology/approachThis study used three-wave data from 205 leader–employee pairs and tested the hypothesized moderated mediation model using hierarchical regression and bootstrapping.FindingsResults revealed that two parallel paths influence leaders’ voice rejection. The first path was “LLX → change self-efficacy → voice rejection”, and the second path was “role overload → emotional exhaustion → voice rejection”. LLX weakened the direct relationship between role overload and emotional exhaustion, and weakened the indirect relationship between role overload and voice rejection via emotional exhaustion.Practical implicationsOrganizations need to provide team leaders with additional resources and reduce their workloads to enhance their effectiveness in fulfilling the role of voice managers.Originality/valueThis study provides a comprehensive explanation, according to the JD-R model and COR theory, of how and when job demand and job resource influence leaders’ voice rejection, thereby enhancing our understanding of the formation. It provides new insights into leader voice rejection.

Anonymous and Insecure Bullies are Less Depressed than Confident and Identifiable Ones, but Only if Remorseful: Cyberbullying Goals, Identifiability, and Depression.

The connection between bullying others and depression is clear. Less clear are the communicative paths through which being a bully leads to depression. Cyberbullying consists of communicative episodes that transcend modes of communication, contexts, and relationships wherein a social network of communicators pursues a subordinate goal of harming other(s) mentally, emotionally, and/or physically to achieve a hierarchically represented set of superordinate goals. Rooted in this conceptualization, we asked 739 undergraduate students to report on a memorable episode of which 374 met our criteria and reported on sending a series of hurtful messages. We employed close-ended self-report measures, as well as open-ended responses subjected to Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC-22) sentiment analysis, and moderated mediation models. Data suggest four conclusions. First, the extent to which bullies attack for five cyberbullying goals (insecurity, past-harm, highlight-differences, upward-mobility, and revenge) depends on how identifiable a cyberbully feels during the bullying episodes. Second, whereas bivariate associations among the five goals and depression emerged, when considering the full theoretical model, only insecurity goals sustained as an effective predictor of increased levels of depression. Third, anonymous bullies who attack because they are insecure are less depressed than confident and identifiable bullies, but only if they experience negative emotions post-attack. Finally, message severity (assessed via LIWC-22) was (a) an ineffective mediator, (b) not associated with depression or identifiability, and (c) mostly not associated with goals.

The role of Dark Triad personality traits in consumers’ counterfeit luxury consumption: a moderated mediation model

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to examine the influence of the Dark Triad personality traits (Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy) on consumers’ purchase intentions for counterfeit luxury products via the mediating effect of moral disengagement, drawing on moral disengagement theory. Furthermore, descriptive norms are tested as a moderators of the mediated relationships between the Dark Triad personality traits and purchase intentions via moral disengagement based on trait activation theory.Design/methodology/approachTo test the hypotheses, a survey design is employed to gather primary data from 205 consumers. The final data are analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling.FindingsThis study finds that moral disengagement mediates the relationships between (1) Machiavellianism, (2) psychopathy and purchase intentions. Descriptive norms are found to moderate the indirect effect of moral disengagement between psychopathy and purchase intentions.Originality/valueDark Triad personality traits are linked to various unethical behaviours. However, no studies have explored how Dark Triad personality traits influence consumers’ purchase intentions for counterfeit luxury products. This study sheds light on how consumers with high Dark Triad personality traits are more likely to be morally disengaged, thereby leading to purchase intentions for counterfeit luxury products, drawing on moral disengagement theory. Furthermore, this study demonstrates descriptive norms as the boundary condition for the mediating relationship between Dark Triad personality traits and purchase intentions via moral disengagement, drawing on trait activation theory. The findings can be used to formulate better strategies to counteract the phenomenon of counterfeit luxury consumption.

The Association of Family Incivility with Adolescent Depression: A Moderated Mediation Model

Negative family interactions have an adverse impact on adolescent mental health. The present study focused on the influence of family incivility on adolescent depression. In order to examine the association of family incivility with depression, an integrated framework was constructed to explore the mediating role of self-compassion and the moderating role of sex differences. Two waves of data were collected from 999 Chinese senior high school students (43.6% males and 56.4% females), with a mean age of 16.58 ± 0.54 years. Time 1 family incivility was positively associated with depression at Time 2 (r = 0.40, p &lt; 0.001). Sex differences moderated the link between family incivility and self-compassion, with their association being significant in females (B = −0.07, SE = 0.03, p = 0.013) but not in males (B = 0.03, SE = 0.03, p = 0.376). Regarding the effect of family incivility on depression, the direct effect was significant only in males (B = 0.13, SE = 0.03, p &lt; 0.001), whereas the indirect effect via self-compassion was significant only in females (B = 0.01, SE = 0.01, 95% CI [0.0010, 0.0232]). The present findings revealed a positive association between family incivility and adolescent depression. Moreover, family incivility has a direct impact on depression in male adolescents and an indirect impact through self-compassion in female adolescents. These findings underscore the important role of adolescent sex differences in the impact of family incivility on adolescent depression and highlight the practical importance of developing interventions to reduce family incivility.

Effect of teachers' teaching strategies on students' learning engagement: moderated mediation model.

This study explores the nuanced relationship between teachers' teaching strategies and students' learning engagement within online environments, considering the mediation by students' perceptions of teachers' emotional engagement and the moderation by teachers' expectations. Employing a stratified sampling technique, data were collected from 1,200 Chinese primary and secondary students through the "Survey on Online Learning Engagement." Structural equation modeling was applied to analyze the relationships among teaching strategies, emotional engagement, teachers' expectations, and learning engagement. The study found that teachers' teaching strategies not only directly affect students' learning engagement (r = 0.377***, p < 0.001), but also indirectly affect students' learning engagement through students' perception of teachers' emotional engagement. It showed a significant mediating effect (indirect effect = 0.231***, p < 0.001). Additionally, teachers' expectations exhibit a notable moderating effect on the relationship between perceived emotional engagement and learning engagement (β = 0.073***, p < 0.001). In other words, in addition to teachers' teaching strategies, teachers' emotional involvement and students' perception of teachers' emotional involvement are important factors affecting students' learning involvement. This means that in online classroom teaching, the emotional transmission and experience between teachers and students play a role in the connection. The study highlights the critical role of emotional connection in educational strategies, suggesting that teachers should focus on fostering emotional engagement alongside academic content. Balanced teacher expectations are recommended to facilitate a supportive learning environment that encourages higher levels of student engagement. Educators are advised to integrate emotional warmth and responsiveness into their teaching methods and to maintain realistic expectations to promote optimal learning outcomes.