Organizational commitment and ethical environment: Reducing nomophobia in the workplace
Abstract
Nomophobia, the anxiety experienced when individuals are separated from their mobile phones, is becoming increasingly prevalent in modern workplaces. This study investigates the role of organizational commitment in mitigating nomophobia, with a focus on the mediating influence of the ethical environment. Data were collected from 600 participants and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The findings show that a strong sense of organizational commitment significantly reduces nomophobia among employees. Additionally, an ethical environment within organizations further mitigates this anxiety by fostering a workplace culture that encourages psychological well-being. This research provides practical insights for organizations looking to reduce the psychological strain associated with digital dependency, emphasizing the importance of both commitment and a strong ethical climate.
References
Al Balushi, A. K., Thumiki, V. R. R., Nawaz, N., et al. (2022). Role of organizational commitment in career growth and turnover intention in public sector of Oman. PLOS ONE, 17(5), e0265535. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265535
Allen, N. J., & Meyer, J. P. (1990). The measurement and antecedents of affective, continuance and normative commitment to the organization. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 63(1), 1–18. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8325.1990.tb00506.x
Alavi, M., Visentin, D. C., Thapa, D. K., et al. (2020). Exploratory factor analysis and principal component analysis in clinical studies: Which one should you use? Journal of Advanced Nursing, 76(8), 1886–1889. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14377
Armstrong, J. S., & Overton, T. S. (1977). Estimating Nonresponse Bias in Mail Surveys. Journal of Marketing Research, 14(3), 396–402. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224377701400320
Bai, A., Hessari, H., Daneshmandi, F., et al. (2024a). Human Resources Strategies: From Job Satisfaction to Innovation in the Age of Technostress. Journal of Business Management and Economic Development, 2(03), 1031–1045. https://doi.org/10.59653/jbmed.v2i03.652
Bai, A., Vahedian, M., Bai, M., et al. (2024b). Elevating Women in the Workplace The Dual Influence of Spiritual Intelligence and Ethical Environments on Job Satisfaction. Journal of Business Management and Economic Development, 2(02), 472–490. https://doi.org/10.59653/jbmed.v2i02.599
Bai, A., Vahedian, M., Hessari, H., Bai, M., Ghahreman, R., & Piri, H. (2024c). Digital Empowerment: Transformation of Women's Body Display Norms in the Age of Social Media. Formosa Journal of Science and Technology, 3(8), 1935-1954.
Balcioğlu, Y. S., & Artar, M. (2024). The evolution of digital leadership: Content and sentiment analysis of The New York Times coverage. Current Psychology, 43, 23953–23970. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-06149-4
Barnett, T., & Vaicys, C. (2000). The Moderating Effect of Individuals’ Perceptions of Ethical Work Climate on Ethical Judgments and Behavioral Intentions. Journal of Business Ethics, 27, 351–362.
Bateman, T. S., & Strasser, S. (1984). A Longitudinal Analysis of the Antecedents of Organizational Commitment. Academy of Management Journal, 27(1), 95–112. https://doi.org/10.2307/255959
Bhattacharya, P. (2019). Digital transformation through enterprise systems: A variance model linking the drivers of business value and the value created from enterprise systems. In: Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Electronic Business Newcastle Upon Tyne. p. 177.
Bian, M., & Leung, L. (2015). Linking Loneliness, Shyness, Smartphone Addiction Symptoms, and Patterns of Smartphone Use to Social Capital. Social Science Computer Review, 33(1), 61–79. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439314528779
Brown, T. A., & Moore, M. T. (2012). Confirmatory factor analysis. In: Handbook of structural equation modeling. Guilford Press. pp. 361–379.
Brown, A., & Ryan, C. (2023). The Impact of Smartphone Technology on Corporate Communication and Productivity. Journal of Business Communication, 60(1), 45–60.
Brown, M. E., & Treviño, L. K. (2006). Ethical leadership: A review and future directions. Journal of Management, 32(1), 121–145.
Cai, H., Zhu, L., & Jin, X. (2024). Construed Organizational Ethical Climate and Whistleblowing Behavior: The Moderated Mediation Effect of Person—Organization Value Congruence and Ethical Leader Behavior. Behavioral Sciences, 14(4), 293. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040293
Campbell, J. L., Lee, S., & Shin, H. (2021). Industry standards and ethical decision-making in organizations: A review and research agenda. Journal of Business Ethics, 170(3), 825–849.
Charles J., M. I., Francis, F., et al. (2021). Effect of Employee Involvement in Decision Making and Organization Productivity. Archives of Business Research, 9(3), 28–34. https://doi.org/10.14738/abr.93.9848
Chordiya, R., Sabharwal, M., & Goodman, D. (2017). Affective organizational commitment and job satisfaction: A cross‐national comparative study. Public Administration, 95(1), 178–195. https://doi.org/10.1111/padm.12306
Deng, D., Ye, C., Wu, F., et al. (2023). Effect of organizational ethical self-interest climate on unethical accounting behaviour with two different motivations in China: the moderating effect of Confucian ShiZhong Thinking. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 10(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01995-2
Deshpande, S. P. (1996). Ethical climate and the link between success and ethical behavior: An empirical investigation of a non-profit organization. Journal of Business Ethics, 15(3), 315–320. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00382957
Drescher, M., Smith, A., & Treviño, L. K. (2023). Personal considerations and ethical decision-making in organizations: A review and research agenda. Journal of Business Ethics, 171(4), 1321–1340.
Duke, É., & Montag, C. (2019). Smartphone addiction, daily interruptions and self-reported productivity. Addictive Behaviors Reports, 6, 90–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2017.07.002
Erdurmazlı, E., Erdem, H., Türen, U., et al. (2022). Nomophobia in today’s overlapping work and family domains: The influences on organizational identification. Journal of General Management, 49(4), 289–302. https://doi.org/10.1177/03063070221117928
Esamah, A., Aujirapongpan, S., Rakangthong, N. K., et al. (2023). Agile Leadership and Digital Transformation in Savings Cooperative Limited: Impact on Sustainable Performance Amidst COVID-19. Journal of Human, Earth, and Future, 4(1), 36–53. https://doi.org/10.28991/hef-2023-04-01-04
Essex, M., Smith, W., & Kelly, D. (2023). Ethical climate in healthcare: A systematic review. Journal of Business Ethics, 171(3), 769–811.
Fu, F. Q., Bolander, W., & Jones, E. (2009). Managing the Drivers of Organizational Commitment and Salesperson Effort: An Application of Meyer and Allen’s Three-Component Model. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 17(4), 335–350. https://doi.org/10.2753/mtp1069-6679170403
Greve, H. R., & Palmer, D. (2022). Formal policies and ethical decision-making in organizations: A review and research agenda. Journal of Management, 48(2), 614–647.
Gupta, R., Agrawal, R., & Gaur, S. (2021). Nomophobia: No mobile phone phobia. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 10(2), 492–495.
Hakkak, M., Nawaser, K., & Ghodsi, M. (2016). Effects of intellectual capital on human resource productivity in innovative firms: mediating role of knowledge management. International Journal of Technology Marketing, 11(2), 238–250. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijtmkt.2016.075689
Hakkak, M., Nawaser, K., Jalali, M., et al. (2023). Determining a model for eliminating organisational lying: a grounded theory approach. International Journal of Information and Decision Sciences, 15(4), 345–365. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijids.2023.134789
Hair, J. F., Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., et al. (2021). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Sage Publications.
Hair, J. F., Matthews, L. M., Matthews, R. L., & Sarstedt, M. (2017). PLS-SEM or CB-SEM: Updated guidelines on which method to use. International Journal of Multivariate Data Analysis, 1(2), 107–123.
Halbesleben, J. R. B., & Whitman, M. V. (2013). Evaluating Survey Quality in Health Services Research: A Decision Framework for Assessing Nonresponse Bias. Health Services Research, 48(3), 913–930. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.12002
Hessari, H., Busch, P., & Smith, S. (2022). Supportive leadership and co-worker support for nomophobia reduction: Considering affective commitment and HRM practices. In: Proceedings of the ACIS 2022 Proceedings. p. 18.
Hessari, H., & Nategh, T. (2022). Smartphone addiction can maximize or minimize job performance? Assessing the role of life invasion and techno exhaustion. Asian Journal of Business Ethics, 11(1), 159–182. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.2805
Hessari, H., Daneshmandi, F., Busch, P., et al. (2024a). Mitigating cyberloafing through employee adaptability: the roles of temporal leadership, teamwork attitudes and competitive work environment. Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration. https://doi.org/10.1108/apjba-02-2024-0065
Hessari, H., Daneshmandi, F., Busch, P., et al. (2024b). Workplace nomophobia: a systematic literature review. Current Psychology, 43(31), 25934–25954. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-06222-y
Hessari, H., Daneshmandi, F., & Nategh, T. (2024c). Examining the Impact of Technostress on Perceived Organizational Commitment: The Mediating Role of Individual Innovation. International Journal of Business and Applied Economics, 3(4), 803–824. https://doi.org/10.55927/ijbae.v3i4.9617
Hessari, H., Bai, A., & Daneshmandi, F. (2024d). Generative AI: Boosting Adaptability and Reducing Workplace Overload. Journal of Computer Information Systems, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/08874417.2024.2417672
Iaffaldano, M. T., & Muchinsky, P. M. (1984). Job satisfaction and organizational commitment are moderators of the pay and performance relationship. Personnel Psychology, 37(1), 17–30.
Ivcevic, Z., Menges, J. I., & Miller, A. (2020). How common is unethical behavior in U.S. organizations? Harvard Business Review.
Jahanshahi, A. A., Maghsoudi, T., & Nawaser, K. (2020). The effects of social capital and psychological resilience on employees’ positive work attitudes. International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 20(3/4), 231–251. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijhrdm.2020.107956
Jones, T. M., & George, J. M. (1998). Organizational learning from historical successes and failures: The role of cognitive frames. Academy of Management Review, 23(3), 352–376.
Kanter, R. M. (1983). The change masters: Corporate entrepreneurs at work. Simon and Schuster.
Kaviani, F., Robards, B., Young, K. L., et al. (2020). Nomophobia: Is the Fear of Being without a Smartphone Associated with Problematic Use? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(17), 6024. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176024
Kaviani, F., Young, K. L., Robards, B., et al. (2020). Nomophobia and self-reported smartphone use while driving: An investigation into whether nomophobia can increase the likelihood of illegal smartphone use while driving. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 74, 212–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2020.08.024
Kim, D., & Vandenberghe, C. (2021). Ethical leadership and organizational commitment: the dual perspective of social exchange and empowerment. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 42(6), 976–987. https://doi.org/10.1108/lodj-11-2020-0479
Kline, R. B. (2023). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling. Guilford publications.
Lawler, E. E. (1992). The ultimate advantage: Creating a high-involvement organization. Jossey-Bass.
León-Mejía, A. C., Gutiérrez-Ortega, M., Serrano-Pintado, I., et al. (2021). A systematic review on nomophobia prevalence: Surfacing results and standard guidelines for future research. PLOS ONE, 16(5), e0250509. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250509
Lin, Y. H., Lin, Y. C., Lee, Y.-H., et al. (2015). Time distortion associated with smartphone addiction: Identifying smartphone addiction via a mobile application (App). Journal of Psychiatric Research, 65, 139–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2015.04.003
Ling, R. S. (2008). New tech, new ties: How mobile communication is reshaping social cohesion. MIT Press.
Meyer, J. P., Allen, N. J., & Smith, C. A. (1993). Commitment to organizations and occupations: Extension and test of a three-component conceptualization. Journal of Applied Psychology, 78(4), 538–551. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.78.4.538
Meyer, J. P., & Allen, N. J. (1991). A three-component conceptualization of organizational commitment. Journal of Applied Psychology, 76(3), 513.
Meyer, J. P., Stanley, D. J., Herscovitch, L., et al. (2002). Affective, Continuance, and Normative Commitment to the Organization: A Meta-analysis of Antecedents, Correlates, and Consequences. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 61(1), 20–52. https://doi.org/10.1006/jvbe.2001.1842
Meyer, J. P., & Morin, J. A. (2017). The role of organizational commitment in organizational life: A comprehensive review. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 38(1), 22–41.
Mowday, R. T., Porter, L. W., & Steers, R. M. (1982). Employee-organization linkage: The psychology of commitment, absenteeism, and turnover. Academic Press.
Murugan, S., & Srivastava, A. (2024). Nomophobia and its impact on job performance: A cross-industry investigation. The International Journal of Indian Psychology, 12(2), 2243–22251.
Nanjundeswaraswamy, T. S., Nagesh, P., Bharath, S., et al. (2024). Leadership theories and styles—A systematic literature review and the narrative synthesis. Human Resources Management and Services, 6(3), 3477. https://doi.org/10.18282/hrms.v6i3.3477
Naiyananont, P., & Smuthranond, T. (2017). Relationships between ethical climate, political behavior, ethical leadership, and job satisfaction of operational officers in a wholesale company, Bangkok Metropolitan region. Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences, 38(3), 345–351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kjss.2016.07.005
Nawaz, S. (2024). Distinguishing between effectual, ineffectual, and problematic smartphone use: A comprehensive review and conceptual pathways model for future research. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 14, 100424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbr.2024.100424
Nguyen, H. D., My Thi Tran, D., Ba Vu, T., et al. (2020). An Empirical Study of Affective Commitment: the Case of Machinery Enterprises in Hochiminh City. Organizations and Markets in Emerging Economies, 11(22), 429–455. https://doi.org/10.15388/omee.2020.11.41
Ouchi, W. G. (1981). Theory Z: How American business can meet the Japanese challenge. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company.
Press, G. (2024). How many people own smartphones? (2024–2029). Retrieved online: https://whatsthebigdata.com/smartphone-stats/ (accessed on 5 March 2024).
Ravesangar, K., & Narayanan, S. (2024). Adoption of HR analytics to enhance employee retention in the workplace: A review. Human Resources Management and Services, 6(3), 3481. https://doi.org/10.18282/hrms.v6i3.3481
Rosseel, Y. (2012). Lavaan: An R Package for Structural Equation Modeling. Journal of Statistical Software, 48(2), 1–36. https://doi.org/10.18637/jss.v048.i02
Schwepker, C. H. (2023). Ethical climate’s influence on organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and turnover intention in the salesforce. Industrial Marketing Management, 52, 42–53.
Shayari, C. (2005). The interplay between personal and organizational ethics: A grounded theory approach. Journal of Business Ethics, 59(1), 33–48.
Slavin, B. (2024). Workforce ecosystems as a model for human capital management in the digital age. Human Resources Management and Services, 6(2), 3455. https://doi.org/10.18282/hrms.v6i2.3455
Sonnentag, S. (2018). The recovery paradox: Portraying the complex interplay between job stressors, lack of recovery, and poor well-being. Research in Organizational Behavior, 38, 169–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.riob.2018.11.002
Spector, P. E. (1997). Job satisfaction: Application, assessment, cause and effect. Sage Publications.
Stephens, G. (2001). Employee participation in decision-making: Does it make a difference? A review of the research. Journal of Management Development, 20(5), 473–489.
Swalhi, A., Al-Dajani, H., & Al-Khalifa, S. (2023). The role of ethical organizational climate in bolstering international business performance. Journal of Business Ethics, 172(4), 1349–1366.
Tams, S., Legoux, R., & Léger, P. M. (2018). Smartphone withdrawal creates stress: A moderated mediation model of nomophobia, social threat, and phone withdrawal context. Computers in Human Behavior, 81, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.11.026
Trevino, L. K., Brown, M. E., & Hartman, L. P. (2018). Ethical decision-making in organizations: A review of the empirical literature. Business Ethics Quarterly, 28(1), 69–106.
Trevino, L. K., Weaver, G. R., & Reynolds, S. R. (2014). Managing ethics in organizations: What works and what doesn’t. Sage Publications.
Tuco, K. G., Castro-Diaz, S. D., Soriano-Moreno, D. R., et al. (2023). Prevalence of Nomophobia in University Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Healthcare Informatics Research, 29(1), 40–53. https://doi.org/10.4258/hir.2023.29.1.40
Ullrich, A., Reißig, M., Niehoff, S., et al. (2023). Employee involvement and participation in digital transformation: a combined analysis of literature and practitioners’ expertise. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 36(8), 29–48. https://doi.org/10.1108/jocm-10-2022-0302
Umezulike, A. N., Okoye, A. C., Ezenwanne, R. C., & Ufaroh, P. C. (2024). Quantitative Analysis of the Influence of Affective Commitment on the Performance of Administrative Staff in Tertiary Institutions, Anambra States. International Journal of Social Science Humanity & Management Research, 3(04). https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2024.v3i4n02
Vermeer, C., Brown, M. E., & Treviño, L. K. (2019). Ethical decision-making in organizations: A review and research agenda. Journal of Management, 45(5), 1866–1915.
Victor, B., & Cullen, J. B. (1988). The Organizational Bases of Ethical Work Climates. Administrative Science Quarterly, 33(1), 101–125. https://doi.org/10.2307/2392857
Wang, X., Guo, Y., & Duan, J. (2022). When does commitment backfire: Linking employee continuance commitment to silence behavior. European Review of Applied Psychology, 72(6), 100797. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erap.2022.100797
Yildirim, C., & Correia, A. P. (2015). Exploring the dimensions of nomophobia: Development and validation of a self-reported questionnaire. Computers in Human Behavior, 49, 130–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.02.059
Copyright (c) 2024 Ali Bai, Hassan Hessari, Morteza Vahedian, Mohammad Bai
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
