The digital escape: examining the impact of cyberloafing on gossip-induced emotional exhaustion and the mediating role of self-esteem

Ashneet Kaur, Sudhanshu Maheshwari and Arup Varma

Evidence-based HRM, 2025, vol. 14, issue 1, 120-137

Abstract: PurposeThis research sheds light on how workplace gossip may affect employees' emotional well-being via self-esteem. Further, the study examines the moderating role of cyberloafing in the examined relationship.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a moderated mediation model to examine the linkage among workplace gossip, self-esteem, and emotional exhaustion, incorporating cyberloafing as a moderator. Data were gathered from 249 employees working in various industries from the US.FindingsWorkplace gossip substantially diminishes self-esteem, which is inversely related to emotional exhaustion. Notably, cyberloafing positively moderates the relationship between self-esteem and emotional exhaustion, heightening the adverse effects of gossip.Practical implicationsThe findings have critical implications for human resource management strategies. To mitigate the impact of gossip, HR managers should foster positive work environments, promote emotional well-being, and implement policies to curb cyberloafing.Originality/valueThis study expands the discussion on workplace gossip while probing the role of self-esteem and cyberloafing. It contributes to the application of the conservation of resource theory to analyze emotional well-being in organizational settings.

Keywords: Workplace gossip; Self-esteem; Cyberloafing; Conservation of resource theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:ebhrmp:ebhrm-12-2023-0344

DOI: 10.1108/EBHRM-12-2023-0344

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