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Does the End Justify the Means? The Role of Organizational Communication among Work-from-Home Employees during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Margherita Zito

    (Department of Business, Law, Economics and Consumer Behaviour “Carlo A. Ricciardi”, Università IULM, Via Carlo Bo 1, 20143 Milan, Italy)

  • Emanuela Ingusci

    (History, Society and Human Studies Department, University of Salento, Via di Valesio 24, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Claudio G. Cortese

    (Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Verdi 10, 10124 Turin, Italy)

  • Maria Luisa Giancaspro

    (Department of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, Palazzo Chiaia Napolitano, Via Crisanzio 42, 70121 Bari, Italy)

  • Amelia Manuti

    (Department of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, Palazzo Chiaia Napolitano, Via Crisanzio 42, 70121 Bari, Italy)

  • Monica Molino

    (Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Verdi 10, 10124 Turin, Italy)

  • Fulvio Signore

    (History, Society and Human Studies Department, University of Salento, Via di Valesio 24, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Vincenzo Russo

    (Department of Business, Law, Economics and Consumer Behaviour “Carlo A. Ricciardi”, Università IULM, Via Carlo Bo 1, 20143 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

During the first months of 2020, the world, and Italy at an early stage, went through the COVID-19 emergency that had a great impact on individual and collective health, but also on working processes. The mandatory remote working and the constant use of technology for employees raised different implications related to technostress and psycho-physical disorders. This study aimed to detect, in such a period of crisis and changes, the role of organizational communication considering the mediating role of both technostress and self-efficacy, with psycho-physical disorders as outcome. The research involved 530 workers working from home. A Structural Equations Model was estimated, revealing that organizational communication is positively associated with self-efficacy and negatively with technostress and psycho-physical disorders. As mediators, technostress is positively associated with psycho-physical disorders, whereas self-efficacy is negatively associated. As regards mediated effects, results showed negative associations between organizational communication and psycho-physical disorders through both technostress and self-efficacy. This study highlighted the potential protective role of organizational communication that could buffer the effect of technostress and enhance a personal resource, self-efficacy, which is functional to the reduction of psycho-physical disorders. This study contributed to literature underlying the role of communication in the current crisis and consequent reorganization of the working processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Margherita Zito & Emanuela Ingusci & Claudio G. Cortese & Maria Luisa Giancaspro & Amelia Manuti & Monica Molino & Fulvio Signore & Vincenzo Russo, 2021. "Does the End Justify the Means? The Role of Organizational Communication among Work-from-Home Employees during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-20, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:3933-:d:532687
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    2. Clara De Vincenzi & Martina Pansini & Bruna Ferrara & Ilaria Buonomo & Paula Benevene, 2022. "Consequences of COVID-19 on Employees in Remote Working: Challenges, Risks and Opportunities An Evidence-Based Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-18, September.
    3. Thang Muan Piang, 2022. "Working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic and its effect on employees and students," Eximia Journal, Plus Communication Consulting SRL, vol. 5(1), pages 195-240, July.
    4. Elisabeth Rohwer & Joelle-Cathrin Flöther & Volker Harth & Stefanie Mache, 2022. "Overcoming the “Dark Side” of Technology—A Scoping Review on Preventing and Coping with Work-Related Technostress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-30, March.
    5. Wang, Richard & Ye, Zhongnan & Lu, Miaojia & Hsu, Shu-Chien, 2022. "Understanding post-pandemic work-from-home behaviours and community level energy reduction via agent-based modelling," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    6. Simone Donati & Gianluca Viola & Ferdinando Toscano & Salvatore Zappalà, 2021. "Not All Remote Workers Are Similar: Technology Acceptance, Remote Work Beliefs, and Wellbeing of Remote Workers during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-19, November.
    7. Faisal Mohammed O. Almaslukh & Haliyana Khalid & Alaa Mahdi Sahi, 2022. "The Impact of Internal Marketing Practices on Employees’ Job Satisfaction during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of the Saudi Arabian Banking Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-15, July.
    8. Martin Selvakumar Mohanan & Vijayakumar Rajarathinam, 2023. "Deep insight of HR management on work from home scenario during Covid pandemic situation using intelligent: analysis on IT sectors in Tamil Nadu," International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management, Springer;The Society for Reliability, Engineering Quality and Operations Management (SREQOM),India, and Division of Operation and Maintenance, Lulea University of Technology, Sweden, vol. 14(4), pages 1151-1182, August.
    9. Christina Deselaers & Alina Dahmen & Sonia Lippke, 2022. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on CSR Activities of Healthcare Providers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-27, December.
    10. Tai Ming Wut & Stephanie Wing Lee & Jing (Bill) Xu, 2022. "Work from Home Challenges of the Pandemic Era in Hong Kong: A Stimulus-Organism-Response Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-17, March.
    11. Valeria Micheletto & Margherita Zito & Massimo Bustreo & Giorgio Gabrielli & Riccardo Circi & Vincenzo Russo, 2022. "The Impact of Optimism and Internal Locus of Control on Workers’ Well-Being, A Multi-Group Model Analysis before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-18, November.

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