IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/abaman/v22y2023i4d10.1057_s41291-023-00219-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The effects of perceived organizational support on employees’ sense of job insecurity in times of external threats: an empirical investigation under lockdown conditions in China

Author

Listed:
  • Luyang Zhou

    (Yuanpei College, Shaoxing University
    Shaoxing University)

  • Shengxiao Li

    (Shaoxing University)

  • Lianxi Zhou

    (Brock University)

  • Hong Tao

    (Yuanpei College, Shaoxing University
    Shaoxing University)

  • Dave Bouckenooghe

    (Brock University)

Abstract

This study examines how perceived organizational support (POS) can be leveraged to provide employees with guided responses to disruptive events. Specifically, this study addresses a previously overlooked yet practically relevant aspect of POS—its communicative role in managing employees’ feelings of job insecurity. Drawing on the social identity perspective and research on individuals’ psychological states of uncertainty, we argue that POS can have both direct and indirect influences on the sense of job insecurity in times of external threats. With this in mind, we used COVID-19 and resulting lockdowns in China as specific context examples of a disruptive event to administer a two-wave lagged survey measuring POS, perceived control, lockdown loneliness, and job insecurity. Theoretical arguments are put forward regarding organizational support for fostering individuals’ social identity and emotional well-being under deeply disruptive work situations. Overall, this study offers insights into how managers may develop risk management and organizationally adaptive practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Luyang Zhou & Shengxiao Li & Lianxi Zhou & Hong Tao & Dave Bouckenooghe, 2023. "The effects of perceived organizational support on employees’ sense of job insecurity in times of external threats: an empirical investigation under lockdown conditions in China," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(4), pages 1567-1591, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:abaman:v:22:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1057_s41291-023-00219-4
    DOI: 10.1057/s41291-023-00219-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41291-023-00219-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41291-023-00219-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ali Faraji-Rad & Michel Tuan Pham, 2017. "Uncertainty Increases the Reliance on Affect in Decisions," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 44(1), pages 1-21.
    2. Brodeur, Abel & Clark, Andrew E. & Fleche, Sarah & Powdthavee, Nattavudh, 2021. "COVID-19, lockdowns and well-being: Evidence from Google Trends," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    3. Michel Tuan Pham & Leonard Lee & Andrew T. Stephen, 2012. "Feeling the Future: The Emotional Oracle Effect," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 39(3), pages 461-477.
    4. Yipeng Liu & Jong Min Lee & Celia Lee, 2020. "The challenges and opportunities of a global health crisis: the management and business implications of COVID-19 from an Asian perspective," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 19(3), pages 277-297, July.
    5. Sierk Horn & Tomoki Sekiguchi & Matthias Weiss, 2021. "Thrown off track? Adjustments of Asian business to shock events," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 20(4), pages 435-455, September.
    6. Margaret C Campbell & J Jeffrey Inman & Amna Kirmani & Linda L Price, 2020. "In Times of Trouble: A Framework for Understanding Consumers’ Responses to Threats," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 47(3), pages 311-326.
    7. Thomas Rockstuhl & Robert Eisenberger & Lynn M. Shore & James N. Kurtessis & Michael T. Ford & Louis C. Buffardi & Salar Mesdaghinia, 2020. "Perceived organizational support (POS) across 54 nations: A cross-cultural meta-analysis of POS effects," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(6), pages 933-962, August.
    8. Papadopoulos, Thanos & Baltas, Konstantinos N. & Balta, Maria Elisavet, 2020. "The use of digital technologies by small and medium enterprises during COVID-19: Implications for theory and practice," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    9. Washika Haak-Saheem, 2020. "Talent management in Covid-19 crisis: how Dubai manages and sustains its global talent pool," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 19(3), pages 298-301, July.
    10. Paula Caligiuri & Helen De Cieri & Dana Minbaeva & Alain Verbeke & Angelika Zimmermann, 2020. "International HRM insights for navigating the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for future research and practice," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(5), pages 697-713, July.
    11. Andreas Klein & Helfried Moosbrugger, 2000. "Maximum likelihood estimation of latent interaction effects with the LMS method," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 65(4), pages 457-474, December.
    12. Jun Liu & Hui Wang & Chun Hui & Cynthia Lee, 2012. "Psychological Ownership: How Having Control Matters," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(5), pages 869-895, July.
    13. Fuller, Christie M. & Simmering, Marcia J. & Atinc, Guclu & Atinc, Yasemin & Babin, Barry J., 2016. "Common methods variance detection in business research," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(8), pages 3192-3198.
    14. André Spicer, 2020. "Organizational Culture and COVID‐19," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(8), pages 1737-1740, December.
    15. George P. Huber & Danial J. Power, 1985. "Retrospective reports of strategic‐level managers: Guidelines for increasing their accuracy," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 6(2), pages 171-180, April.
    16. Daniel S. Hamermesh, 2020. "Life satisfaction, loneliness and togetherness, with an application to Covid-19 lock-downs," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 983-1000, December.
    17. Carnevale, Joel B. & Hatak, Isabella, 2020. "Employee adjustment and well-being in the era of COVID-19: Implications for human resource management," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 183-187.
    18. Alfredo De Massis & Emanuela Rondi, 2020. "Covid‐19 and the Future of Family Business Research," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(8), pages 1727-1731, December.
    19. repec:ucp:bkecon:9780226316529 is not listed on IDEAS
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lipsa Jena & Subash Chandra Pattnaik, 2023. "COVID-19: Challenges and Changes for Human Resource Management Professionals," Journal of Studies in Dynamics and Change (JSDC), ISSN: 2348-7038, Voices of Inclusive Change and Expressions- (VOICE) Trust, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, vol. 10(2), pages 11-18, April-Jun.
    2. Sasmita Misra & Abhilash Ponnam & Pratyush Banerjee, 2023. "COVID-19 Induced New Workplace HR Practices: Practitioners’ Perspectives from India," Management and Labour Studies, XLRI Jamshedpur, School of Business Management & Human Resources, vol. 48(2), pages 261-279, May.
    3. Foliano, Francesca & Tonei, Valentina & Sevilla, Almudena, 2024. "Social restrictions, leisure and well-being," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    4. Sangeeta Gupta & Poonam Devdutt & Urmila Jagadeeswari Itam, 2022. "Centrality of psychological well-being of IT employees during COVID-19 and beyond," DECISION: Official Journal of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Springer;Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, vol. 49(4), pages 365-380, December.
    5. Mathias Huebener & Sevrin Waights & C. Katharina Spiess & Nico A. Siegel & Gert G. Wagner, 2021. "Parental well-being in times of Covid-19 in Germany," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 91-122, March.
    6. Fabian Jintae Froese, 2023. "Asian Business & Management 2018–2023: farewell from the outgoing editor," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(5), pages 1801-1803, November.
    7. Sanders, Karin & Nguyen, Phong T. & Bouckenooghe, Dave & Rafferty, Alannah E. & Schwarz, Gavin, 2024. "Human resource management system strength in times of crisis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    8. Jin Lu & Mohammad Falahat & Yuen Onn Choong & Phaik Kin Cheah, 2024. "From servant leadership to organizational citizenship behavior: A theoretically grounded moderated mediation framework for Chinese private enterprises," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    9. Aydinli, Aylin & Gu, Yangjie & Pham, Michel Tuan, 2017. "An experience-utility explanation of the preference for larger assortments," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 746-760.
    10. Eelen, Jiska & Özturan, Peren & Verlegh, Peeter W.J., 2017. "The differential impact of brand loyalty on traditional and online word of mouth: The moderating roles of self-brand connection and the desire to help the brand," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 872-891.
    11. Yifan Zhong & Yameng Li & Jian Ding & Yiyi Liao, 2021. "Risk Management: Exploring Emerging Human Resource Issues during the COVID-19 Pandemic," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-23, May.
    12. Zheng, Xiaoying & Ruan, Chenhan & Zheng, Lei, 2021. "Money or love? The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer life goals and subjective well-being," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 626-633.
    13. Rebechi, Alessio & Lepinteur, Anthony & Clark, Andrew E. & Rohde, Nicholas & Vögele, Claus & D’Ambrosio, Conchita, 2024. "Loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from five European countries," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    14. GHIUTA OVIDIU-AUREL & BAKITI ba MBOG BINYET JOSEPH OLIVIER, 2024. "Human Resource Management Resilience’S Practices For Postcovid19 Cameroon Companies," Annals - Economy Series, Constantin Brancusi University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 4, pages 207-218, August.
    15. Caselli, Mauro & Fracasso, Andrea, 2021. "Covid-19 and Technology," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1001, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    16. Farndale, Elaine & Horak, Sven & Piyanontalee, Rakoon & Puffer, Sheila M. & Vidović, Maja, 2025. "Looking back to look forward: Disruption, innovation and future trends in international human resource management," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(1).
    17. Ahmet Ekici & Forrest Watson, 2022. "A model of consumer life‐satisfaction amidst the COVID‐19 pandemic: Evidence and policy implications," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(1), pages 158-179, March.
    18. Jacob P. Manahan, 2022. "Implementation of PRIME-HRM Program Using Cloud-Based Technology," Technium, Technium Science, vol. 4(1), pages 102-119.
    19. Margarida Rodrigues & Mário Franco & Nuno Sousa & Rui Silva, 2021. "Reviewing COVID-19 Literature on Business Management: What It Portends for Future Research?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-21, May.
    20. Farzana Afridi & Amrita Dhillon & Sanchari Roy, 2021. "The gendered crisis: livelihoods and mental well-being in India during COVID-19," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2021-65, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:abaman:v:22:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1057_s41291-023-00219-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.palgrave.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.