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Perceived overqualification as a double-edged sword for employee creativity: The mediating role of job crafting and work withdrawal behavior

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  • Daokui Jiang
  • Lei Ning
  • Yiting Zhang

Abstract

With the continuous development of education level and the downturn of economic situation, employment competition is intensifying, more and more high-quality talents appear, and the misfit between people and posts has become a common phenomenon. However, there is no consensus on the relationship between perceived overqualification and employee creativity. Based on the conservation of resource theory, this study reveals the micro mechanism and boundary conditions of the influence of excessive qualification on employee creativity. This study analyzed 487 valid samples obtained in three stages. The results show that: (1) Job crafting has a positive mediating effect on perceived overqualification and creativity, and the path of the two halves is positive; (2) Work withdrawal behavior plays a negative mediating role between the perceived overqualification and creativity. The path in the first half is positive, and the path in the second half is negative; (3) Organizational identity moderates the effect of perceived overqualification on job crafting and work withdrawal behavior. Specifically, the higher the sense of organizational identification, the stronger the positive effect of perceived overqualification on job crafting and the weaker the positive effect on work withdrawal behavior; (4) Organizational identification moderates the mediating role of job crafting and work withdrawal behavior in the relationship between overqualification and creativity. Specifically, the higher the organizational identity, the stronger the indirect positive effect of perceived overqualification on creativity through job crafting, and the weaker the indirect negative impact of perceived overqualification on creativity through work withdrawal behavior. The study conclusion deepens the research on the mechanism of the influence of the perceived overqualification on employees’ work behavior, and provides practical enlightenment for the organization and management of employees with excess qualification.

Suggested Citation

  • Daokui Jiang & Lei Ning & Yiting Zhang, 2024. "Perceived overqualification as a double-edged sword for employee creativity: The mediating role of job crafting and work withdrawal behavior," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(6), pages 1-21, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0304529
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304529
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Wenqing Tian & Huatian Wang & Sonja Rispens, 2021. "How and When Job Crafting Relates to Employee Creativity: The Important Roles of Work Engagement and Perceived Work Group Status Diversity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Jean-Pierre Neveu & Stevan E. Hobfoll & Jonathon Halbesleben & M Westman, 2018. "Conservation of resources in the organizational context : the reality of resources and their consequences," Post-Print hal-02472360, HAL.
    4. Wu, Chia-Huei & Tian, Amy & Luksyte, Aleksandra & Spitzmueller, Christiane, 2017. "On the association between perceived overqualification and adaptive behavior," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 66320, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    5. Zhanxue Gong & Fang Sun & Xiyuan Li, 2021. "Perceived Overqualification, Emotional Exhaustion, and Creativity: A Moderated-Mediation Model Based on Effort–Reward Imbalance Theory," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-17, October.
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