Conquering knowledge exchange barriers with age differences: A stress appraisal perspective on the consequences of upward social comparisons.

Knowledge exchange is crucial for organizations, but interpersonal dynamics can entail stress, affecting whether and how knowledge flows. Integrating social comparison and stress appraisal research, we propose that upward social comparison can be appraised as challenging or hindering. We suggest a d...

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Publicado en:Journal of Occupational & Organizational Psychology Vol. 98; no. 1; pp. 1 - 35
Autores principales: Rinker, Laura, Fasbender, Ulrike, Gerpott, Fabiola H., Burmeister, Anne
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Mar2025
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Mar2025
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      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
      place: Malden, Massachusetts
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        atl: Conquering knowledge exchange barriers with age differences: A stress appraisal perspective on the consequences of upward social comparisons.
      aug:
        au:
          Rinker, Laura
          Fasbender, Ulrike
          Gerpott, Fabiola H.
          Burmeister, Anne
        affil: Business and Organizational Psychology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
      sug:
        subj:
          Age Factors
          Knowledge Management
          Social Factors
          Social Comparison
          Work Environment
          Stress, Occupational
          Employee Attitudes
          Social Status
          Human
          Male
          Female
          Germany
          Factor Analysis
          Employees
          Experimental Studies
          Cognition Evaluation
          Task Performance and Analysis
          Employee Performance Appraisal
          Funding Source
          Male
          Female
      ab: Knowledge exchange is crucial for organizations, but interpersonal dynamics can entail stress, affecting whether and how knowledge flows. Integrating social comparison and stress appraisal research, we propose that upward social comparison can be appraised as challenging or hindering. We suggest a dual pathway model involving an approach pathway via challenge appraisal and an avoidance pathway via hindrance appraisal with consequences on three knowledge exchange behaviours (i.e., knowledge sharing, knowledge seeking and knowledge hiding). Additionally, we examine age differences (vs. no age differences) to the comparison target as a buffer. We conducted two preregistered experimental online studies with employees (NStudy 1 = 206, NStudy 2 = 414), utilizing a 2 (social comparison; upward, lateral) × 3 (target age; younger, same‐age, older) between‐subject design. Participants received bogus task performance feedback (Study 1: cognitive ability test; Study 2: typing ability test). Both studies show that upward social comparison (but not other social comparison directions) fosters knowledge hiding via hindrance appraisal. This effect is weakened by an age difference (vs. no age difference) to the comparison target. However, our results do not support the approach pathway via challenge appraisal. Our research highlights social pitfalls in knowledge exchange and emphasizes the benefits of age differences between colleagues.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
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        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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