Coworker incivility and proactive behavior: Roles of emotional energy and mindfulness

Moving beyond existing perspectives (e.g., individual difference and leader-related factors), we examined the relationship between coworker incivility and proactive behavior. Drawing on affective events theory and the model of proactive motivation, we focused on the mediating role of employees’ emotional energy and the moderating role of mindfulness. To test our model, we analyzed data obtained through a three-wave survey completed by 346 employees. The results indicated that coworker incivility was negatively related to employees’ proactive behavior, emotional energy mediated this relationship, and mindfulness buffered both the relationship between coworker incivility and emotional energy and the indirect effect of coworker incivility on proactive behavior through emotional energy. We discuss theoretical and practical implications and indicate future research directions.