Hybrid work stressors and psychological withdrawal behavior: A moderated mediation model of emotional exhaustion and proactive personality

This study proposes a theoretical model of challenge/hindrance stressors of hybrid work on emotional and behavioral reactions based on the conservation of resources theory. We investigate a mediation model by incorporating emotional exhaustion as a mediator to connect the relationship between two stressors and psychological withdrawal behavior. In addition, we identify proactive personality as a key personal resource to moderator the above mediating effects. The two-wave panel data was collected through online questionnaire surveys with a one-month interval. This study targeted at employees worked in the United States and 213 valid questionnaires were collected. Our results show that: (1) challenge/hindrance stressors of hybrid work are positively related to emotional exhaustion; (2) emotional exhaustion mediates the relationship between challenge/hindrance stressors of hybrid work and psychological withdrawal behavior; (3) proactive personality weakens the positive relationship between challenge stressors of hybrid work and emotional exhaustion. However, the moderating effect of proactive personality on the indirect effect of hindrance stressors of hybrid work on psychological withdrawal behavior via emotional exhaustion was not found. The implications of this study for theory and practice are discussed.