Open Access

ARTICLE

Effect of Positive Workplace Gossip on Employee Silence: Psychological Safety as Mediator and Promotion-Focused as Moderator

Ganli Liao¹, Qianqiu Wang¹, Yi Li^2,*

1 School of Economics and Management, Beijing Information Science and Technology University, Beijing, 100092, China
2 Development and Planning Department, Capital Normal University, Beijing, 100044, China

* Corresponding Author: Yi Li. Email:

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion 2022, 24(2), 237-249. https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2022.017610

Received 25 May 2021; Accepted 30 June 2021; Issue published 18 January 2022

Abstract

The development of electronic information technology has made workplace gossip more ubiquitous. As a part of interpersonal communication on informal occasions, positive workplace gossip affects individuals’ mood, cognition, and behaviors. In light of this and based on the Social Interdependence Theory, the study proposed that positive workplace gossip has a negative effect on employee silence, and psychological safety mediates this relationship. In addition, the promotion-focused moderates the relationship between psychological safety and employee silence. Based on a two-wave sampling design from 311 innovative enterprises employees, the results of Structural Equation Model by AMOS 22.0 and Mplus 7.0 supported all the hypotheses. Results revealed that positive workplace gossip can decrease the employee silence through the mediating role of psychological safety and moderating role of promotion-focused. These findings provided theoretical implications and practical suggestions for enterprise managers to create positive communication climate to reduce employee silence.

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Keywords

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