The high cost of workplace anxiety and the buffering effect of workplace social exchange

Abstract

Purpose: Drawing from Conservation of Resource and Social Exchange Theories, we predict that workplace anxiety has a detrimental effect on job performance, and that this relation is mediated by emotional exhaustion. We further predict that the quality of employees’ social exchange relationships (leader‐member exchange [LMX] and team‐member exchange [TMX]) will mitigate the harmful effect of workplace anxiety on job performance. Design/Methodology: We tested our predictions in two field studies (N=242; N=267) of police officers. Officers completed anxiety and emotional exhaustion measures, supervisors/peers completed social exchange measures, and supervisors provided job performance ratings. Results: As predicted, our SEM models indicated that emotional exhaustion mediates the link between workplace anxiety and job performance. Also as predicted, TMX buffered the relation between anxiety and emotional exhaustion, while LMX buffered the relation between emotional exhaustion and job performance. Limitations: Our focus on police officers was consistent with our research questions, as anxiety is a serious concern among police organizations. The extent to which our results generalize to other occupations remains to be tested. Research/Practical Implications: Our findings indicate that supportive peers and supervisors can play a powerful role in reducing the potentially harmful effects of workplace anxiety. Thus, both organizations and individual employees will benefit from continuously working to improve employee‐peer and employee‐supervisor relationships. Originality/Value: We are the first to demonstrate that workplace anxiety has an effect on resource depletion via emotional exhaustion. We are also the first to highlight the vital role of social exchange in buffering the relation between anxiety and performance.