Configurational antecedents of employee green behavior: A mixed methods study.

Abstract

As organizations confront the global imperative of ecological transition, the psychological gap between organizational green policies and voluntary individual green behavior remains a major obstacle to sustainable development. Employee green behavior is central to bridging this gap. Grounded in the ability-motivation-opportunity framework, this study integrates partial least squares structural equation modeling and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to examine how antecedent conditions, including green self-efficacy, personal norms, green leadership, and organizational green supportive atmosphere, are jointly associated with employee green behavior. The results indicate that each of these variables is positively associated with employee green behavior. The configurational analysis identified three patterns associated with high employee green behavior: (a) ability-opportunity synergy, with green self-efficacy and organizational green supportive atmosphere as core conditions; (b) motivation-opportunity synergy, linking personal norms, green leadership, and organizational green supportive atmosphere; and (c) comprehensive synergy involving green self-efficacy, personal norms, and organizational green supportive atmosphere. This study extends the ability-motivation-opportunity framework in the context of employee green behavior and provides practical implications for organizations seeking to support workplace sustainability. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).