Self-construal types and organizational citizenship behavior for the environment of employees in a university
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
ISSN: 1467-6370
Article publication date: 12 March 2021
Issue publication date: 2 July 2021
Abstract
Purpose
In researching into workplace pro-environmental behaviors, there is sparse evidence on self-construals with dimensions of organizational citizenship behavior for the environment (OCBE), particularly among university employees. To fill this gap, the purpose of the study is to investigate the associations of self-construals with eco-civic engagement, eco-helping and eco-initiatives among 256 (men = 139 and women = 117) employees of a University.
Design/methodology/approach
Through the use of cross-sectional survey method, data were collected to investigate theoretically deduced hypotheses. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
Results showed that independent self-construal was positively associated with eco-civic engagement, β = 0.25, t = 2.55, p < 0.01, eco-helping, β = 0.42, t = 4.51, p < 0.01 and eco-initiatives, β = 0.36, t = 3.73, p < 0.01, whereas interdependent self-construal had significant positive relationship with eco-civic engagement only, β = 0.27, t = 2.73, p < 0.01.
Research limitations/implications
Future research can manipulate self-construal and collect observational data on eco-civic engagement, eco-helping and eco-initiatives. The findings should be further developed using larger samples among other higher education institutions (HEIs).
Practical implications
This study provides a basis that self-construction can influence OCBE, particularly, focusing on independence can drive eco-civic engagement, eco-helping and eco-initiatives while focusing on interdependence can motivate eco-civic engagement. The findings may guide future development of workplace environmental sustainability programs and policies to aid university managers, practitioners, organizers and promoters of environmental sustainability on the university campuses.
Originality/value
The findings contribute to environmental sustainability literature in HEIs by providing information on the usefulness of self-construal types in motivating employee participation in OCBE.
Keywords
Citation
Ojedokun, O. (2021), "Self-construal types and organizational citizenship behavior for the environment of employees in a university", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 22 No. 4, pp. 780-800. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-07-2020-0267
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited