Ostracism and Knowledge Hiding: Sequential Mediation of Efficacy Needs and Psychological Distress

Drawing on the conservation of resources theory and need-threat model, this study analyses the mediating role of efficacy needs and psychological distress on the relationship between workplace ostracism and knowledge-hiding behaviour of employees. Time-lagged data were collected from 225 employees working in the mobile telecommunication sector through online survey instruments prepared in light of past literature. SPSS23 and SmartPLS3 were used to analyse the data. The results obtained confirm the initial hypothesis that there exists a positive relationship between workplace ostracism and knowledge hiding. Furthermore, the results also established the sequential mediating roles of efficacy needs and psychological distress between workplace ostracism and knowledge-hiding behaviour of employees. This study adds to the literature suggesting that workplace ostracism represents a real threat to companies that aim to foster knowledge-sharing behaviours. Moreover, it reveals that efficacy needs and psychological distress are two underlying mechanisms behind the baseline relationship.