Psychological entitlement and knowledge-hiding behaviours: role of job stress and living a job calling

ABSTRACT This study examines the effect of psychological entitlement on employees’ knowledge-hiding behaviours. Furthermore, we investigate the mediating role of job stress and the moderating effect of living a job calling by focusing on the relationship between psychological entitlement and employees’ knowledge-hiding behaviours. Using the time-lag design, data has been gathered from 513 respondents working in Pakistan’s service sector organisations. The results highlight how psychological entitlement is positively related to employees’ knowledge-hiding behaviours, together with how job stress is a mediator of this relationship. Our results further suggest that living a job calling mitigates the positive impact of job stress on knowledge-hiding behaviours. Moreover, the indirect effects of psychological entitlement on knowledge-hiding behaviours via job stress are stronger for employees with lower levels of living a job calling than those with higher levels.