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Workplace Loneliness and the Need to Belong in the Era of COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Shuyun Du

    (School of Tourism Management, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China)

  • Yinan Ma

    (School of Tourism Management, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
    School of Business Management, Hongik University, Sejong 30016, Korea)

  • Jeoung Yul Lee

    (School of Business Management, Hongik University, Sejong 30016, Korea
    National Research Base of Intelligent Manufacturing Service, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China)

Abstract

On the basis of Social Exchange Theory (SET), Knowledge Stickiness Theory (KST), and the need-to-belong hypotheses, we empirically studied the causes and consequences of workplace loneliness in interpersonal communication and explored the moderating effect of the need to belong. We distributed a survey and collected 639 valid responses in mainland China in both paper and electronic form during the period of February to October 2020, when the COVID-19 crisis was severe. Mplus was used to create a latent structural equation model with a moderating mediating model. Collaborative and competitive intrateam climates affect employees’ workplace loneliness and knowledge hoarding from different aspects. We also verified a moderated mediation model. Thus, this study examines the mediating effect of workplace loneliness and introduces the need to belong as the moderating variable; reveals the formation mechanism of workplace loneliness in collaborative and competitive intrateam climates; and deepens the research on the effective regulation of workplace loneliness. As the COVID-19 pandemic remains ongoing, we have verified changes to the mediating effect of workplace loneliness, driven by the motivation of the need to belong, and clearly evaluated a moderated mediating effect path, which contributes to the theory of belonging.

Suggested Citation

  • Shuyun Du & Yinan Ma & Jeoung Yul Lee, 2022. "Workplace Loneliness and the Need to Belong in the Era of COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-22, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:8:p:4788-:d:795482
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Lára Jóhannsdóttir & David Cook & Sarah Kendall & Mauricio Latapí & Catherine Chambers, 2022. "Human Resource Management and Institutional Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Case Study from the Westfjords of Iceland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-18, December.

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