What Moderates the Relation Between Intragroup Conflict, Emotional Exhaustion, and Work Engagement?

Zinat Esbati; Christian Korunka

doi:10.16993/sjwop.91

What Moderates the Relation Between Intragroup Conflict, Emotional Exhaustion, and Work Engagement?

Scandinavian Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology

Volume 5 (2020): Issue 1

By: Zinat Esbati and Christian Korunka

Open Access

|Jun 2020

Abstract

The present study investigated whether emotion regulation moderates the association between relationship conflict and group emotional exhaustion and whether conflict management moderates the association between task conflict and group work engagement in organizational workgroups. We conducted hierarchical regression and moderation analyses on questionnaire responses from the members of 91 workgroups (N = 595). The analyses revealed that emotion regulation via distraction moderated the influences of relationship conflict on group emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, a cooperative style of conflict management moderated the influences of task conflict on group work engagement. The findings suggest that distraction and a cooperative style are effective for moderating group emotional exhaustion and group work engagement respectively. Future research should use a more interpretive perspective to gain deeper insight on the ways of managing conflict at the workgroup level. This study suggests which strategies would be most useful for reducing group emotional exhaustion and for increasing group work engagement

References

Alper, S., Tjosvold, D., & Law, K. S. (2000). Conflict management, efficacy, and performance in organizational teams. Personnel Psychology, 53, 625–642. DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-6570.2000.tb00216.x
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Behfar, K. J., Peterson, R. S., Mannix, E. A., & Trochim, W. (2011). Conflict in small groups: The meaning and consequences of process conflict. Small Group Research, 42(2), 127–176. DOI: 10.1177/1046496410389194
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Bakker, A. B., Emmerik, H., & Euwema, M. C. (2006). Crossover of burnout and engagement in work teams. Work and Occupation, 33(4), 464–489. DOI: 10.1177/0730888406291310
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Benitez, M., Francisco, J. M., & Lourdes, M. (2018). Buffering relationship conflict consequences in teams working in real organization. International Journal of Conflict Management, 29(2), 279–297. DOI: 10.1108/IJCMA-11-2017-0131
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Bliese, P. D. (2000). Within-group agreement, non-independence, and reliability: Implications for data aggregation and analysis, In K. J. Klein & S. W. J. Kozlowski (Eds.), Multilevel theory, research, and methods in organizations: Foundations, extensions, and new directions (349–381). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Bruk-Lee, V., Nixon, A. E., & Spector, P. E. (2013). An expanded typology of conflict at work: Task, relationship and non-task organizational conflict as social stressors. Work and Stress, 27(4), 339–350. DOI: 10.1080/02678373.2013.841303
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Bushman, B. J. (2002). Does venting anger feed or extinguish the flame? Catharsis, rumination, distraction, anger, and aggressive responding. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 28(6), 724–731. DOI: 10.1177/0146167202289002
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Carnevale, P. J., & Probst, T. M. (1998). Social values and social conflict in creative problem solving and categorization. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 1300–1309. DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.74.5.1300
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Chan, D. (1998). Functional relations among constructs in the same content domain at different levels of analysis: A typology of composition models. Journal of Applied Psychology, 83, 234–246. DOI: 10.1037/0021-9010.83.2.234
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Chen, G., Liu, C., & Tjosvold, D. (2005). Conflict management for effective top management teams and innovation in China. Journal of Management Studies, 42(2), 277–300. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6486.2005.00497.x
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Costa, P., Passos, A. M., & Bakker, A. (2014). Empirical validation of the teamwork engagement construct. Journal of Personnel Psychology, 13(1), 34–45. DOI: 10.1027/1866-5888/a000102
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
DeChurch, L. A., & Marks, M. A. (2001). Maximizing the benefits of task conflict: The role of conflict management. International Journal of Conflict Management, 12(1), 4–22. DOI: 10.1108/eb022847
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
De Dreu, C. K. W. (2008). The virtue and voice of workplace conflict: Food for (pessimistic) thought. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 29, 5–18. DOI: 10.1002/job.474
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
De Dreu, C. K. W., & Beersma, B. (2005). Conflict in organizations: Beyond effectiveness. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 14(2), 105–117. DOI: 10.1080/13594320444000227
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
De Dreu, C. K. W., Van Dierendonck, D., & Dijkstra, M. T. (2004). Conflict at work and individual well-being. International Journal of Conflict Management, 15(1), 6–26. DOI: 10.1108/eb022905
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
De Dreu, C. K. W., & Van Vianen, A. E. M. (2001). Managing relationship conflict and the effectiveness of organizational teams. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 22, 309–328. DOI: 10.1002/job.71
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
De Dreu, C. K. W., & Weingart, L. (2003). Task versus relationship conflict, team performance, and team member satisfaction: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88, 741–749. DOI: 10.1037/0021-9010.88.4.741
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
De Jonge, J., & Dormann, C. (2006). Stressors, resources, and strain at work: A longitudinal test of the triple-match principle. Journal of Applied Psychology, 91, 1359–1374. DOI: 10.1037/0021-9010.91.5.1359
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
De Wit, F. R. C., Greer, L. L., & Jehn, K. A. (2012). The paradox of intragroup conflict: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 97, 360–390. DOI: 10.1037/a0024844
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Dijkstra, M. T. M., Beersma, B., & Evers, A. (2011). Reducing conflict related employee strain: The benefits of an internal locus of control and a problem-solving conflict management strategy. Work, & Stress, 25(2), 167–184. DOI: 10.1080/02678373.2011.593344
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Dijkstra, M. T. M., De Dreu, C. K. W., Evers, A., & Van Dierendonck, D. (2009). Passive responses to interpersonal conflict at work amplify employee strain. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 18(4), 405–423. DOI: 10.1080/13594320802510880
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Dijkstra, M. T. M., Van Dierendonck, D., Evers, A., & De Dreu, C. K. W. (2005). Conflict and well-being at work: The moderating role of personality. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 20(2), 87–104. DOI: 10.1108/02683940510579740
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Druskat, V. U., & Wolff, S. B. (2001). Building the emotional intelligence of groups. Harvard Business Review, 79, 81–90. DOI: 10.1037/t05468-000
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Eisenberg, N., & Fabes, R. A. (1992). Emotion, regulation, and the development of social competence. In M. S. Clark (Ed.), Review of personality and social psychology, 14: Emotion and social behavior (119–150). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Evans, M. G. (1985). A Monte Carlo study of the effects of correlated method variance in moderated multiple regression analysis. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 36, 305–323. DOI: 10.1016/0749-5978(85)90002-0
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Friedman, R. A., Tidd, S. T., Currall, S. C., & Tsai, J. C. (2000). What goes around comes around: The impact of personal conflict style on work group conflict and stress. International Journal of Conflict Management, 10, 17–35. DOI: 10.1108/eb022834
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ganster, D. C., & Schaubroeck, J. (1991). Work stress and employee health. Journal of Management, 17, 235–271. DOI: 10.1177/014920639101700202
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
George, J. M., & Jones, G. R. (1997). Organizational spontaneity in context. Human Performance, 10, 153–170. DOI: 10.1207/s15327043hup1002_6
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ghahremani, O., Falahi, A., & Alidustghahfarokhi, E. (2015). Communication skills and conflict management styles: A study on sport experts in universities in Tehran. Contemporary Studies on Sport Management, 6(12), 11–22.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Greer, L. L., & Jehn, K. A. (2007). The pivotal role of emotion in intragroup process conflict: An examination of the nature, causes, and effects of process conflict. Research on Managing Groups and Teams, 10, 23–45. DOI: 10.1016/S1534-0856(07)10002-521
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Griffith, J. A., Connelly, S., & Thiel, Ch. A. (2014). Emotion regulation and intragroup conflict: When more distracted minds prevail. International Journal of Conflict Management, 25(2), 148–170. DOI: 10.1108/IJCMA-04-2012-0036
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Gross, J. J. (1998). Antecedent- and response-focused emotion regulation: Divergent consequences for experience, expression, and physiology. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 72, 435–448. DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.74.1.224
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Gross, J. J. (2008). Emotion regulation. In M. Lewis, J. M. Haviland-Jones & L. F. Barrett (Eds.), Handbook of Emotions, 3rd Edn (497–512). New York, NY: Guilford.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Gross, J. J., & John, O. P. (2003). Individual differences in two emotion regulation processes: Implications for affect, relationships, and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85, 348–362. DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.85.2.348
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hatfield, E., Cacioppo, J. T., & Rapson, R. L. (1994). Emotional contagion. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hayes, A. F. (2012). PROCESS: A versatile computational tool for observed variable mediation, moderation, and conditional process modelling. Retrieved from http://afhayes.com/public/process2012.pdf
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hofstede, G. (1983). The cultural relativity of organizational practices and theories. Journal of International Business Studies, Fall, 75–90. DOI: 10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8490867
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Huang, J. C. (2010). Unbundling task conflict and relationship conflict: The moderating role of team goal orientation and conflict management. International Journal of Conflict Management, 21(3), 334–355. DOI: 10.1108/10444061011063207
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hu, N., Chen, Z., Gu, J., Haung, S., & Liu, H. (2016). Conflict and creativity in inter-organizational teams: The moderating role of shared leadership. International Journal of Conflict Management, 28(1). DOI: 10.1108/IJCMA-01-2016-0003
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
James, L. G., Demaree, R. G., & Wolf, G. (1993). r_wg: An assessment of within-group interrater agreement. Journal of Applied Psychology, 78(2), 306–309. DOI: 10.1037/0021-9010.78.2.306
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
James, L. R. (1982). Aggregation bias in estimates of perceptual agreement. Journal of Applied Psychology, 67, 219–229. DOI: 10.1037/0021-9010.67.2.219
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Jehn, K. (1995). A multimethod examination of the benefits and detriments of intragroup conflict. Administrative Science Quarterly, 40, 256–282. DOI: 10.2307/2393638
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Jehn, K. A. (1997). A qualitative analysis of conflict types and dimensions in organizational groups. Administrative Science Quarterly, 42, 530–557. DOI: 10.2307/2393638
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Jehn, K. A., & Bendersky, C. (2003). Intragroup conflict in organizations: A contingency perspective on the conflict-outcome relationship. Research in Organizational Behavior, 25, 187–242. DOI: 10.1016/S0191-3085(03)25005-X
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Jehn, K. A., Greer, L., Levine, S., & Szulanski, G. (2008). The effects of conflict types, dimensions, and emergent states on group outcomes. Group Decision, & Negotiation, 17, 465–495. DOI: 10.1007/s10726-008-9107-0
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Jehn, K., & Mannix, E. (2001). The dynamic nature of conflict: A longitudinal study of intragroup conflict and group performance. Academy of Management Journal, 44, 238–251. DOI: 10.2307/3069453
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Jehn, K., Northcraft, G. B., & Neale, M. A. (1999). Why differences make a difference: A field study of diversity, conflict and performance in workgroups. Administrative Science Quarterly, 4(4), 741–763. DOI: 10.2307/2667054
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
John, O. P., & Gross, J. J. (2004). Healthy and unhealthy emotion regulation: Personality processes, individual differences, and life span development. Journal of Personality, 72(6), 1301–1334. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.2004.00298.x
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Jungst, M., & Blumberg, B. (2016). Work relationships: Counteracting the negative effects of conflict. International Journal of Conflict Management, 27(2), 225–248. DOI: 10.1108/IJCMA-10-2014-0079
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Lichtenstein, R., Alexander, J. A., Jinnett, K., & Ullman, E. (1997). Embedded intergroup relations in interdisciplinary teams. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 33, 413–434. DOI: 10.1177/0021886397334001
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Lovelace, K., Shapiro, D. L., & Weingart, L. R. (2001). Maximizing cross-functional new product teams’ innovativeness and constraint adherence: A conflict communications perspective. Academy of Management Journal, 44, 779–793. DOI: 10.2307/3069415
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Maslach, C., & Jackson, S. E. (1981). The measurement of experienced burnout. Journal of Occupational Behavior, 2, 99–113. DOI: 10.1002/job.4030020205
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Meier, L. L., Gross, S., Spector, P. E., & Semmer, N. K. (2014). Relationship and task conflict at work: Interactive short-term effects on angry mood and somatic complaints. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 18, 44–156. DOI: 10.1037/a0032090
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Moliner, C., Martínez-Tur, V., Ramos, J., & Peiro, J. M. (2008). Organizational justice and extrarole customer service: The mediating role of well-being at work. Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 17, 327–348. DOI: 10.1080/13594320701743616
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Nair, N. (2008). Towards understanding the role of emotions in conflict: A review and future directions. International Journal of Conflict Management, 19(4) 359–381. DOI: 10.1108/10444060810909301
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Parayitam, S., & Dooley, R. S. (2009). The interplay between cognitive and affective conflict and cognition- and affect-based trust in influencing decision outcomes. Journal of Business Research, 62, 789–796. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2008.02.006
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Pruitt, D. G., & Rubin, J. (1986). Social Conflict: Escalation, Stalemate and Settlement. New York: Random House.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Rahim, M. A. (1983). A measure of styles of handling interpersonal conflicts. Academy of Management Journal, 26, 368–376. DOI: 10.2307/255985
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ross, R. (1989). Conflict. In R. Ross & J. Ross (Eds.), Small groups in organizational settings (139–178). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Schaufeli, W. B., Leiter, M. P., Maslach, C., & Jackson, S. E. (1996). The Maslach Burnout Inventory – General Survey. In C. Maslach, S. E. Jackson & M. P. Leiter (Eds.), Maslach Burnout Inventory. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Schaufeli, W. B., Salanova, M., González-Rom, V., & Bakker, A. B. (2002). The measurement of engagement and burnout: A two sample confirmatory actor analytic approach. Journal of Happiness Studies, 3, 71–92. DOI: 10.1023/A:1015630930326
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Selmer, J., Jonasson, C., & Lauring, J. (2013). Group conflict and faculty engagement: Is there a moderating effect of group trust? Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 35(1), 95–109. DOI: 10.1080/1360080X.2013.748477
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Seo, M. G., Barrett, L. F., & Bartunek, J. M. (2004). The role of affective experience in work motivation. Academy of Management Review, 29(3), 423–439. DOI: 10.5465/amr.2004.13670972
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Shaukat, R., Yousaf, A., & Sanders, K. (2017). Examining the linkages between relationship conflict, performance and turnover intentions: Role of job burnout as a mediator. International Journal of Conflict Management, 28(1), 4–23. DOI: 10.1108/IJCMA-08-2015-0051
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Sonnentag, S., Unger, D., & Nägel, I. J. (2013). Workplace conflict and employee well-being. International Journal of Conflict Management, 24(2) 166–183. DOI: 10.1108/10444061311316780
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Spaapen, D. L. Waters, F., Brummer, L., Stopa, L., & Bucks, R. S. (2014). The Emotion regulation questionnaire: Validation of the ERQ-9 in two community samples. Psychological Assessment, 26(1), 46–54. DOI: 10.1037/a0034474
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Spector, P. E. (1987). Method variance as an artefact in self-reported affect and perceptions at work: Myth or significant problem. Journal of Applied Psychology, 72, 438–443. DOI: 10.1037/0021-9010.72.3.438
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Spector, P. E. (1994). The contribution of individual dispositions to the subsequent conceptions of job stressor and job strains. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 67, 1–11. DOI: 10.1111/j.2044-8325.1994.tb00545.x
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Spector, P. E., & Bruk-Lee, V. (2008). Conflict, health, and well-being. In V. Bruk-Lee, A. E. Nixon & P. E. Spector (2013). An expanded typology of conflict at work: Task, relationship and non-task organizational conflict as social stressors. Work, & Stress, 27(4), 339–350. DOI: 10.1080/02678373.2013.841303
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Staw, B. M., Sandelands, L. E., & Dutton, J. E. (1981). Threat-rigidity effects on organizational behaviour. Administrative Science Quarterly, 26, 501–524. DOI: 10.2307/2392337
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Staw, B. M., Sutton, R. I., & Pelled, L. H. (1994). Employee positive emotion and favorable outcomes at the workplace. Organization Science, 5(1), 51–71. DOI: 10.1287/orsc.5.1.51
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Swann, W. B., Polzer, J. T., Seyle, D. C., & Ko, S. J. (2004). Finding value in diversity: Verification of personal and social self-views in diverse groups. The Academy of Management Review, 29(1), 9–27. DOI: 10.2307/20159006
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Tjosvold, D. (1998). Co-operative and competitive goal approaches to conflict: Accomplishments and challenges. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 41, 285–342. DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-0597.1998.tb00025.x
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Tjosvold, D., Hui, C., Ding, D., & Hu, J. (2003). Conflict values and team relationships: Conflict’s contribution to team effectiveness and citizenship in China. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 24, 69–88. DOI: 10.1002/job.180
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Westman, M. (2001). Stress and strain crossover. Human Relations, 54, 557–91. DOI: 10.1177/0018726701546002
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Zillman, D. (1998). Mood management: Using entertaining to full advantage. In C. L. Rusting & S. Nolen-Hoeksema (Eds.), Regulating responses to anger: Effects of rumination and distraction on angry mood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74(3), 790–803. DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.74.3.790
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article

Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.16993/sjwop.91 | Journal eISSN: 2002-2867

Journal RSS Feed

Language: English

Page range: 5 - 5

Submitted on: Jun 23, 2019

Accepted on: Apr 24, 2020

Published on: Jun 10, 2020

Published by: Stockholm University Press

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Keywords:

relationship conflict,

task conflict,

group work engagement,

group emotional exhaustion,

emotion regulation,

conflict management

© 2020 Zinat Esbati, Christian Korunka, published by Stockholm University Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 5 (2020): Issue 1