Preventive (Compensatory) Function of Deviant Behaviors on the relationship between Job Stress and Emotional Exhaustion

Deviant behaviors are the most controversial behaviors in the workplaces­ which until nowadays many researches have been done about them. This research aimed to study the role of deviant behaviors on the relationship between job stress and emotional exhaustion. Among the employees of an industrial organization in Isfahan city, two hundred seventy seven employees were selected using convenience sampling and respond to the job stress (JSQ), deviant behaviors (DBQ) and emotional exhaustion (EEQ) questionnaires. Results revealed that, there was a significant relationship between job stress and emotional exhaustion with deviant toward individuals and toward organization, and between job stress and emotional exhaustion. Also the results showed that deviant behaviors toward individuals and organization moderate the relationship between job stress and emotional exhaustion. That is, when deviant behaviors toward individuals and organization were high, there was a weak relationship between job stress and emotional exhaustion. But when deviant behaviors toward individuals and organization were low, there was a most strength relationship between job stress and emotional exhaustion. In sum, the results of this investigation showed that deviant behaviors toward individuals and organizations can serve as a preventive (compensatory) factor in the relationship between job stress and emotional exhaustion.