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How Do Problem-Solving Demands Influence Employees’ Thriving at Work: An Explanation Based on Cognitive Appraisal

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  • Lulu Ma

    (School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
    Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China
    Institute of Marxism, Shijiazhuang Posts and Telecommunications Technical College, Shijiazhuang 050020, China)

  • Hongyu Ma

    (School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
    Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China)

  • Xiangping Zhan

    (School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
    Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China)

  • Yue Wang

    (School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
    Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China)

Abstract

In globalized markets, it is important for companies to cultivate a thriving workforce that is motivated to grow and develop. Based on the transactional theory of stress, we discussed how the way people appraise their problem-solving demands, either as a challenge or a hindrance, impacts employees’ thriving at work. Data were collected from employees of a state-owned enterprise in China at two separate points with a 4-week interval. The results showed that problem-solving demands have a positive impact on employees’ thriving at work through challenge appraisal and a negative impact on employees’ thriving at work through hindrance appraisal. Additionally, we observed a moderated mediation effect in which organizational identity strengthened the positive effects of problem-solving demands on challenge appraisal, which in turn promoted employees’ thriving at work. The findings highlight the role of cognitive appraisal in interpreting employees’ responses to work stress.

Suggested Citation

  • Lulu Ma & Hongyu Ma & Xiangping Zhan & Yue Wang, 2023. "How Do Problem-Solving Demands Influence Employees’ Thriving at Work: An Explanation Based on Cognitive Appraisal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-10, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:20:p:14879-:d:1259952
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gretchen Spreitzer & Kathleen Sutcliffe & Jane Dutton & Scott Sonenshein & Adam M. Grant, 2005. "A Socially Embedded Model of Thriving at Work," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 16(5), pages 537-549, October.
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