Do Challenge and Hindrance Stressors Effect Cyberloafing Differently? Attentiveness and Anger as Mediators and Trait Mindfulness as a Moderator

Abstract

The objective of this study is to test the differential effect of challenge and hindrance stressors on cyberloafing, specifically using attentiveness and anger as mediators, respectively. It also investigates the effect of trait mindfulness as a moderator on the effect of hindrance stressors on cyberloafing through anger. We collected data from 304 full-time Indian employees, working in broad-ranging industries and functions. The findings showed that challenge stressors have an indirect negative effect on cyberloafing through attentiveness. The results also indicated that anger partially mediates the positive relationship between hindrance stressors and cyberloafing. Simple moderation analysis revealed that high trait mindfulness lowers the impact of hindrance stressors on anger. Moreover, trait mindfulness moderated the indirect effect of hindrance stressors on cyberloafing through anger, in a way that the indirect effect became weaker in the case of high trait mindfulness. To regulate cyberloafing, we discussed the importance of optimizing challenge stressors to increase attentiveness and enhancing trait mindfulness to weaken the negative effects of hindrance stressors on anger and cyberloafing in the context of the theoretical and practical contribution of the study.