Late-night smartphone usage and job performance: unlocking the missing links

Applying the dual theories of stressor–strain–outcome and ego-depletion in the technology-based working environment, this study examines how late-night smartphone usage could impact on employee’s job performance. Using two waves of data collected from 373 valid responses by supervisor–subordinate dyads, we test the mediating effect of work withdrawal and moderating role of self-emotional regulation ability on the relationship between late-night smartphone usage and job performance. Results reveal that more late-night smartphone usages by employees lead to a higher level of withdrawal behaviour, which in turn lowers their job performance. However, employees’ self-emotional regulation ability helps mitigate the negative impact of late-night smartphone usage on their withdrawal intentions. We run the moderating mediation analysis in the second step of the study. The findings show that people with a higher level of self-emotional regulation ability tend to better manage their late-night smartphone usage with less work withdrawal behaviour, which enables them to achieve better job performance. Implications of the findings to research and practice especially in the realms of emotional intelligence and human resource management under the changing technology and work patterns are discussed.