Mechanisms underlying the effect of occupational stressors on public servants’ organizational citizenship behavior

We explored the effect of stimulating organizational citizenship behavior from the perspective of occupational stressors, as well as the roles of employees’ perceived organizational support and public service motivation as a mediator and moderator, respectively, of this relationship. Participants were 257 public servants in China, who completed questionnaires assessing the variables of interest. Results of structural equation modeling revealed that challenge stressors positively affected organizational citizenship behavior, whereas hindrance stressors negatively affected organizational citizenship behavior. Public service motivation mediated the relationship between the two forms of occupational stressors (challenge and hindrance) and organizational citizenship behavior. Additionally, perceived organizational support positively moderated the direct and indirect effects of challenge stressors on public service motivation, and also negatively moderated the direct and indirect effect of hindrance stressors on public service motivation. This research has theoretical and practical meaning for management in the Chinese public sector.