Chuan-Chung Hsieh, Jyun-Kai Liang and Hui-Chieh Li
Drawing from the conservation of resource theory and the job demands-resources model, this study examines the bi-directional conflicts of work and family during COVID-19, and…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing from the conservation of resource theory and the job demands-resources model, this study examines the bi-directional conflicts of work and family during COVID-19, and investigates the online teaching work-related antecedents and the mechanism shaping emotional exhaustion of teachers in Taiwan. Moreover, this study explores mindfulness in teaching as a possible moderator.
Design/methodology/approach
Data for analysis were collected from elementary school teachers via an online survey using a questionnaire comprising well-developed scales. The hypotheses were validated using structural equation modeling.
Findings
Results show that only family interfering with work conflict mediates the positive relationship of online teaching job demand with emotional exhaustion and negative relationship of online teaching job resource with emotional exhaustion. Results also evidence that mindfulness practiced by teachers can help them perceive their own feelings and thoughts non-judgmentally in face of job demands.
Originality/value
With the growing work-from-home trend, the current study revisits the impact of work demands and resources on work-family conflict, and examines whether Taiwanese teachers' perception towards online teaching would lead to different observations. The path that JD→WIF conflict→EE is well established in the literature, while COVID-19 brings to light another path JD→FIW conflict→EE, revealing insight into teachers' cognition and plight during the pandemic.
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Keywords
Jyun-Kai Liang and Hsin-Lin Chang
Many people feel a connection to their work that could best be described as a dependency, due to its intensity and importance to their overall self-concept. It is likely that…
Abstract
Purpose
Many people feel a connection to their work that could best be described as a dependency, due to its intensity and importance to their overall self-concept. It is likely that psychological and social needs play a profound role in the connection people feel to their work; however, the explanatory power of these factors has been neglected in the literature, particularly with regard to cultural perspectives. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
To address this deficiency, the authors propose a profile multidimensional construct referred to as psycho-social work dependency, drawing on the Mandala model of self (Hwang, 2011b) and the Chinese composite self (Lu, 2003). The authors also developed a psychometrically sound 16-item questionnaire, the psycho-social work dependency scale, to measure this construct. A total of 1,314 valid questionnaires were obtained from employees in Taiwan to verify the reliability and validity of the instrument. Cross-validation was conducted using an independent sample of 278 valid questionnaires.
Findings
The results indicate good reliability and validity. What follows is a discussion of four types of psycho-social work dependency: strong, loose, direct, and indirect. Implications and suggestions for future research are also presented.
Originality/value
A cultural-inclusive construct-psycho-social work dependency was developed to best delineate the connections between Chinese employees and their work. This study expounded the definition, structure, measurement scale, and profile of psycho-social work dependency. These results could help OB researchers and practitioners to know more about the connections between employees and their work, especially for Chinese workers. This new construct may also stir up more studies to investigate the role of psycho-social work dependency in the workplace.