Yielding to (cyber)-temptation: Exploring the buffering role of self-control in the relationship between organizational justice and cyberloafing behavior in the workplace

Abstract

Guided by the Strength Model of Self-control (Muraven & Baumeister, 2000) and the General Theory of Crime (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990), we examined the role of self-control in buffering the negative relationship between perceived organizational justice and cyberloafing behavior. Two hundred thirty-eight employee and co-worker dyads participated in the study. Organizational justice negatively predicted cyberloafing behavior, though this relationship had ceased to be statistically significant after controlling for gender, age, and hours of internet use for work-related activities. In addition, self-control moderated this relationship. Specifically, there was a stronger negative relationship between perceived organizational justice and cyberloafing for employees with high as opposed to low levels of self-control.