When Humble is Humbled: The Moderating Role of Leader Underestimation in the Dual Relationship Between Employee Humility and Well-Being

Jie Zhong (), Qiuxiang Wen, Chao Ma, Ying Zhang () and Li Zhang
Additional contact information
Jie Zhong: Tsinghua University
Qiuxiang Wen: Lanzhou University of Technology
Chao Ma: The Australian National University
Ying Zhang: Tsinghua University
Li Zhang: Harbin Institute of Technology

Journal of Happiness Studies, 2024, vol. 25, issue 6, No 12, 31 pages

Abstract: Abstract Previous research has found inconsistent relationship between general humility and individual well-being. Moreover, there is very limited exploration of its underlying mechanisms and boundary conditions. Drawing from ego-depletion theory and self-efficacy literature, we propose an integrated model that examines the concurrent effects of employee humility on well-being. Taking a multi-faceted perspective of well-being, we suggest that employee humility is associated with both positive and negative aspects of well-being through two routes: increased self-efficacy and ego depletion. In line with internal identity asymmetry theory, we further propose that perceived leader underestimation serves as a critical boundary condition that influences these relationships. To test our hypotheses, we utilized time-lagged and supervisor-subordinate matched data and conducted a moderated-mediation analysis. Our results partially supported the hypothesized relationships. Specifically, employee humility was found to be associated with increased well-being in terms of personal growth and job satisfaction through enhanced self-efficacy and increased ego depletion. However, it was also linked to decreased well-being in terms of sleep deprivation through heightened ego depletion. Moreover, while perceived leader underestimation did not moderate the positive relationship between employee humility and ego depletion, it did play a moderating role in the positive association between employee humility and self-efficacy. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the positive and negative aspects of employee humility in relation to individuals’ well-being.

Keywords: Employee humility; Perceived leader underestimation; Ego depletion; Self-efficacy; Well-being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10902-024-00780-5 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:25:y:2024:i:6:d:10.1007_s10902-024-00780-5

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer. ... fe/journal/10902/PS2

DOI: 10.1007/s10902-024-00780-5

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of Happiness Studies is currently edited by Antonella Delle Fave

More articles in Journal of Happiness Studies from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().