Examining the effect of challenging and threatening work stress on employees' innovative behavior

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence mechanism of challenging and threatening work stress on employees' innovative behavior, and to examine the mediating role of psychological distance and the moderating role of employment relationships. A web-based survey of 498 employees was conducted. The main findings were as follows: (a) Challenging stress had a significant and positive impact on innovative employee behavior, whereas threatening stress negatively affected innovative employee behavior, (b) psychological distance mediated the relationship between both challenging and threatening stress and employees' innovative behavior, and (c) the employment relationship positively moderated the relationship between challenging stress and employees' innovative behavior and negatively moderated the relationship between threatening stress and employees' innovative behavior. Implications are pointed out and suggestions provided for management personnel who are searching for ways to encourage employees' innovative behavior in firms where there is work stress.