Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    When does proactivity have a cost? Motivation at work moderates the effects of proactive work behavior on employee job strain

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Strauss, K.
    Parker, Sharon
    O'Shea, D.
    Date
    2017
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Strauss, K. and Parker, S. and O'Shea, D. 2017. When does proactivity have a cost? Motivation at work moderates the effects of proactive work behavior on employee job strain. Journal of Vocational Behavior. 100: pp. 15-26.
    Source Title
    Journal of Vocational Behavior
    DOI
    10.1016/j.jvb.2017.02.001
    ISSN
    0001-8791
    School
    Future of Work Institute
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/69591
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    The literature on proactivity has focused primarily on its positive performance outcomes. However, the effects of proactive behavior on employees’ well-being are relatively unknown. We theorize that when an individuals’ motivation at work is characterized by pressure and coercion (high controlled motivation), with no compensatory intrinsic interest in or identification with the work (low autonomous motivation), proactive behavior is likely to deplete employees’ resources, resulting in job strain. We tested this proposition in a lagged study of 127 employee-supervisor dyads across a variety of sectors. As expected, supervisor-rated proactive work behavior was positively associated with job strain when controlled motivation was high and when autonomous motivation was also low. Under all other conditions, there was no effect of proactive behavior on job strain. For example, when individuals experienced high controlled motivation yet also experienced autonomous motivation, there was no effect of proactive behavior on job strain. In sum, proactive behavior has costs in terms of job strain only when employees experience a sense of pressure and obligation in their work in the absence of any compensating autonomous motivation.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Too proactive to switch off: When taking charge drains resources and impairs detachment
      Cangiano, F.; Parker, Sharon ; Ouyang, K. (2021)
      Although proactive behavior is an important determinant of individual work performance, its consequences for employee well-being and other personal outcomes have been largely neglected. In this study, we adopted a ...
    • The Role of Leader Support in Facilitating Proactive Work Behavior: A Perspective From Attachment Theory
      Wu, C.; Parker, Sharon (2017)
      Researchers have proposed that leader support helps employees behave proactively at work. Leader support can facilitate the opportunities for employees to bring about change, as well as their motivation to do so. Nevertheless, ...
    • Does daily proactivity affect well-being? The moderating role of punitive supervision
      Cangiano, F.; Parker, Sharon; Yeo, G. (2019)
      Proactive behavior (self-initiated and future-oriented actions to bring about change) has largely positive consequences for organizationally oriented outcomes such as job performance. Yet the outcomes of proactivity from ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.