Impact of psychological contract breach on police corruption in Nigeria: The moderating role of emotion regulation strategies

Abstract

Using insight from social exchange and conservation of resources theories, the present study address the void in the literature on the relationship between psychological contract breach (PCB) and police corruption, and investigates the moderating role of emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) in the relationship. Data were collected from 391 (198 male and 193 female) police personnel in various police divisions in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. The results of moderated hierarchical regression analysis showed that PCB ( β = .17, p < .05) and expressive suppression ( β = .22, p < .01) were positively related to police corruption. However, cognitive reappraisal ( β = −.26, p < .05) was negatively associated with police corruption. Finally, whereas cognitive reappraisal ( β = −.10, p < .05) buffers the positive relationship between PCB and police corruption, expressive suppression exacerbates this relationship ( β  =  .19 , p < .01). These findings suggest the need for cognitive reappraisal training for police personnel.