Organizational Communication Patterns as Predictors of Organizational Citizenship Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Citizenship Motives

Abstract

Organizational communication patterns were used to predict the extent to which employees engaged in organizational citizenship behaviors. Both job satisfaction and citizenship motives were examined as potential mediators in the relationship between organizational communication patterns and organizational citizenship behaviors. Using a census-matched nationally representative sample ( N = 378) data were collected from participants from a variety of industries and organizations. As predicted, the conversation and positive conformity orientations positively predicted organizational citizenship behaviors. The negative conformity dimension negatively predicted in-role and organizational citizenship behaviors but counter to the prediction was a positive predictor of individual citizenship behaviors in the path analysis. Citizenship motives served as a full or partial mediator for both the positive conformity and conversation orientations relationship with organizational citizenship behaviors; however, job satisfaction did not act as a mediator for any of the relationships between organizational communication patterns and organizational citizenship behaviors.