Authors : Aminah Ahmad, Zoharah Omar and Farah Mardiana Radzali
Abstract: Drawing from general strain theory and conservation of resources theory, we tested a mediation in which job stress is the predictor and workplace deviant behavior is the outcome with emotional exhaustion as the mediator. Using survey data from 261 public service employees in Malaysia we conducted structural equation modelling analysis. The results supported the proposed model. The stress-deviance linkage is significant and emotional exhaustion mediates the relationship between job stress and workplace deviant behavior. Emotional exhaustion resulting from the experience of stress further increases employee engagement in deviant behavior. The findings suggest that emotional exhaustion as a strain factor plays an important role in further understanding the effect of job stress on workplace deviant behavior. We discuss theoretical as well as practical implications of the findings for human resource management and recommendations for future research.
Aminah Ahmad, Zoharah Omar and Farah Mardiana Radzali, 2017. Mediating Role of Employee Emotional Exhaustion in the Stress-Deviance Linkage. The Social Sciences, 12: 666-673.