Russell, Emma and Woods, Stephen A (2019) Personality differences as predictors of action-goal relationships in work-email activity. Computers in Human Behavior, 103. pp. 67-79. ISSN 0747-5632

PDF - Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial No Derivatives. Download (635kB)

Abstract

Email is a ubiquitous and work-critical tool for many people at work today. Research suggests that people engage a range of actions to deal with work-email, with the same email action (e.g. turning off email) facilitating some goals (e.g. for well-being) but hindering others (e.g. for being helpful). Using mixed-methods across two studies with knowledge workers who use work-email, we examined whether individual differences in personality can explain why there is a goal paradox of work-email actions. The theory of purposeful work behavior (TPWB) informs our approach. In Study 1, semi-structured interviews (N=28) uncovered (using thematic analysis) a comprehensive list of 72 work-email actions that differently impact goals related to Work, Well-being, Control and Concern. Study 2 then addressed whether personality traits could predict work-email activity directed towards these four goals. A multi-level survey (N=341; n = 5575) of work-email activity was analyzed using cross-level hierarchical linear modelling. We found that action-goal relationships in dealing with work-email, could be predicted by people’s trait-relevant goal striving. This advances understanding of why work-email actions can be both beneficial and problematic for people. Use of habitual actions also interacted with personality to strengthen action-goal relationships, except for those with low Emotional Stability. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for theory, policy and practice.

Item Type:	Article
Schools and Departments:	University of Sussex Business School > Management
Research Centres and Groups:	Future of Work Hub
Depositing User:	Emma Russell
Date Deposited:	23 Sep 2019 14:05
Last Modified:	25 Sep 2020 01:00
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/86363

View download statistics for this item

📧 Request an update