The relationship between family to work conflict and instigated incivility at work : exploring trait anger and negative affect as moderators

Abstract

This study investigates the relationships among instigated workplace incivility and family-work conflict, angry temperament and negative affect. Data from an online survey were analyzed using hierarchical regression. I predicted that family-work conflict, angry temperament and negative affect would all be positively related to instigated incivility (Hypothesis 1). Further, I hypothesized that trait anger and negative affect would moderate the relationship between family-work conflict and instigated incivility, such that this positive relationship would be stronger for individuals reporting high (versus low) trait anger (Hypothesis 2), and for individuals reporting high (versus low) negative affect (Hypothesis 3). Supporting Hypothesis 1, results suggest all three predictors have a significant positive relationship with instigated incivility. Additionally, contradicting Hypotheses 2 and 3, although there was some evidence of negative affect and angry temperament moderating the relationship between family-work conflict and instigated workplace incivility, the observed pattern was such that the relationship between family-work conflict and instigated incivility was stronger for those with low angry temperament and for those with low negative affect. Limitations and future research ideas are discussed.