A Stressor-Emotion–CWB and social exchange perspective on the relationship between role overload and cyberloafing

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to understand whether, why and when role overload predicts an organization-directed CWB: cyberloafing. To do so, we utilize the Stressor-Emotion–CWB theory and social exchange theory. Design/methodology/approach The authors collected data from 506 employees working in five Information Technology (IT) firms in India using a multiwave survey design. Results revealed support for all the hypotheses. Findings This study found that negative affect partly carries the influence of role overload to cyberloafing. Secondly, the results indicate that role overload has a direct and positive relationship with cyberloafing. Third and finally, we found that narcissism moderates the positive relationship between role overload and negative affect, followed by cyberloafing. Originality/value This paper showcases that role overload can evoke cyberloafing both as a coping mechanism and a retaliatory response directed at the organization. This paper further demonstrates that employees high in narcissism are vulnerable to stressors like role overload, and as a result, they experience more negative emotions and engage in more cyberloafing.