Workplace Loneliness as an Explanatory Mechanism in Incivility Outcomes
Researchers have studied loneliness as a modern health epidemic leading to myriad negative health effects, yet the literature lacks evidence of loneliness? antecedents and consequences in the context of the workplace. Utilizing samples from state corrections supervisors (Sample 1) and the general working population (Sample 2), we found that loneliness at least partially explains the relationship between incivility and individual mental health (emotional exhaustion, depression, and anxiety) and organizationally relevant (increased turnover intentions, decreased job satisfaction, increased health-related absenteeism, and lower job performance) outcomes, and that workgroup civility norms appear to moderate the relationship between incivility and outcomes. Results of this study point to the importance of future research on workplace loneliness interventions.