Publication Date

Spring 2020

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

Advisor

Megumi Hosoda

Keywords

Affective Commitment, Careerist Attitudes, Counterproductive Work Behaviors, Perceived Overqualification, Psychological Empowerment

Subject Areas

Psychology

Abstract

It has been shown that employees who perceive to be overqualified in their roles are more likely to display negative attitudes and behaviors; however, little attention has been paid to the possible moderators of this relationship. Therefore, the present study proposed that psychological empowerment would moderate the relationship between perceived overqualification and job attitudes (affective commitment and careerist attitudes) and behaviors (counterproductive work behaviors). It was hypothesized that the relationship between perceived overqualification and these job attitudes and behaviors would be weaker for employees with higher levels of psychological empowerment than for employees with lower levels of psychological empowerment. Results from a self-report survey of 138 employed individuals showed that psychological empowerment moderated only the relationship between perceived overqualification and counterproductive behaviors. Results also showed that perceived overqualification was negatively related to affective commitment and careerist attitudes, regardless of levels of psychological empowerment. Consistent with past findings, these results suggest that the negative consequence of overqualification on counterproductive behaviors is avoidable and emphasize the importance of person-job fit in hiring employees in order to reduce the negative outcomes of perceived overqualification.

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