A Counterproductive Behaviours at Work: Can Psychological Capital Make a Difference?

Abstract

The present study examined the predictive role of Psychological Capital (PsyCap) onCounterproductive Work Behaviours directed at individuals (CWB–I) and organisations (CWB–O). A purposive sample of 400 employees from the banking and insurance sectors in the Solanand Shimla districts of Himachal Pradesh, a state in the Union of India, was used in this study. The Data were collected using- the Psychological Capital Questionnaire–24 (PCQ–24; Luthans et al., 2007) and the Counterproductive Work Behaviour Checklist (CWB–C; Spector et al., 2006). Regression analysis indicated that, among females, Optimism accounted for a 14% reduction inCWB–I, while Optimism (11%), Resilience (2%), and Self-Efficacy (3%) together contributed toa 16% reduction in CWB–O. For males, Self-Efficacy reduced CWB–I by 4%, with Hope (17%)and Resilience (4%) collectively explaining a 21%variance of CWB–O. In the public sector, Optimism (11%), Self-Efficacy (16%), and Hope (7%) collectively explained 34% of the variancein CWB–I, while Hope (3%), Optimism (6%), and Resilience (2%) accounted for an 11%explained variance in CWB–O. In the private sector, Resilience (19%), Optimism (3%), and SelfEfficacy (5%) accounted fora 27% reduction in CWB–I, with Resilience (21%) and Self-Efficacy(4%) together contributing to a 25% reduction in CWB–Resilience and Self-efficacy have turnedout to be common predictors for both genders and sectors.