A Regional Study on Spillover Perspective: Analyzing the Underlying Mechanism of Emotional Exhaustion between Family Incivility, Thriving and Workplace Aggression

Abstract

This study intends to scrutinize the underlying mechanism of employee exhaustion in the relationship between family incivility, and outcomes of thriving and workplace aggression with the spillover theory serving as the overarching explanation. The data was collected through distribution of 300 self-reported questionnaires administered in a single wave. The final sample turned out to be 246 workers of service sector organizations operating in Rawalpindi and Islamabad region. The data analysis revealed acceptable model fit indices for CFA conducted for full measurement model. Subsequently, SEM was used for testing different structural paths. The statistical findings of the study confirm that emotional exhaustion serves as underlying mechanisms, which validate the assumptions of spillover theory that the exposure to family incivility spills over to the worklife domain and emotional exhaustion is experienced followed by reduction in thriving capability and development of aggressive behavior at workplace at the same time.