Workplace bullying and workplace deviance: The mediating effect of emotional exhaustion and the moderating effect of core self-evaluations

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between workplace bullying and workplace deviance. This study also examined the mediating effect of emotional exhaustion and the moderating effect of core self-evaluations (CSE) in the relationship between workplace bullying and workplace deviance.

Design/methodology/approach

Convenience sampling was used in this study; 262 caregivers at a long-term care institution in Taiwan participated in the study.

Findings

The results of this study showed that workplace bullying positively and significantly influenced workplace deviance; emotional exhaustion fully mediated the relationship between workplace bullying and deviance; and CSE significantly moderated the relationship between workplace bullying and deviance.

Research limitations/implications

The self-reporting method and cross-sectional research design adopted in this study might have resulted in common method variance and limited the ability to make causal inferences. This study suggest future studies to obtain measures of predictor and criterion variables from different sources or ensure a temporal, proximal, or psychological separation between predictor and criterion in the collection of data to avoid the common method bias.

Practical implications

Businesses should establish a friendly work environment and prevent employees from encountering workplace bullying. Next, an unbiased process for internal complaints should be established. Finally, this study suggests recruiting employees with high CSE.

Originality/value

This study was the first to simultaneously consider the effect of emotional exhaustion (a mediator) and CSE (a moderator) on the relationship between workplace bullying and workplace deviance.

Citation

Peng, Y.-C., Chen, L.-J., Chang, C.-C. and Zhuang, W.-L. (2016), "Workplace bullying and workplace deviance: The mediating effect of emotional exhaustion and the moderating effect of core self-evaluations", Employee Relations, Vol. 38 No. 5, pp. 755-769. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-01-2016-0014