Moderating role of the deviant behaviors on the relationship between job stress and perceived psychological safety

Deviant behaviors are harmful to individuals and organizations in most situations. However, at the individual level these behaviors in response to stress can be considered as compensatory behaviors. The present study aimed to investigate the moderating role of deviant behaviors on the relationship between job stress and perceived psychological safety and compare discussed relations between the two independent organizations (an administrative organization with an industrial organization). From employees of two independent organizations in Isfahan city, 204 and 277 employees were selected using convenience sampling, respectively. All participants were asked to respond to Deviant Behaviors Questionnaire (DBQ), Job Stress Questionnaire (JSQ), and Perceived Psychological Security (PPS). Results of the two studies revealed that a negative significant relationship between job stress and perceived psychological safety as well as a positive significant relationship between job stress and deviant behaviors toward individuals and toward organization. Also results revealed that, deviant behaviors toward individuals and toward organization moderated the relationship between job stress and perceived psychological safety. When deviant behaviors toward individuals and toward organization were high, there was no significant relationship between job stress and perceived psychological safety, but low deviant behaviors toward individuals and toward organization showed a negative significant relationship between job stress and perceived psychological safety. In sum, the results of the present study showed that, despite some differences in the two sets of administrative and industrial organizations studied, deviant behaviors toward individuals and organizations can serve as a buffer (compensatory) factor in the relationship between job stress and perceived psychological safety.