The increase of counterproductive work behaviour from organizational and individual level due to workplace conflict: a sequential moderated mediation model

Purpose Based on affective events theory (AET), this study aims to construct a moderated sequential mediation model to explore the pathways of organizational climate on workplace conflict and subsequent counterproductive work behaviour (CWB). Design/methodology/approach This study collected data from 1,035 respondents in a large state-owned enterprise located in Beijing, China. And this study used Mplus 8.3 to test the model fit, then tested the eight hypotheses using Mplus 8.3 to verify the mediating effects of workplace conflict and psychological well-being and the moderating effect of emotional stability. Findings Results indicated that: organizational climate is more likely to produce individual-oriented CWB (CWB-I) under the mediating effect of workplace conflict and the chain mediation of workplace conflict and psychological well-being, and emotional stability moderates the relationship between workplace conflict and psychological well-being, workplace conflict and CWB-I, but it has no moderating effect on the relationship between workplace conflict and organizational-oriented CWB (CWB-O). Originality/value This study puts forward a relatively complete theoretical framework, expands the application scope of AET and sheds new light on the intervening process that explains how organizational climate influences CWB-I and CWB-O, which enriches the literature in the two fields.