Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/313777 
Year of Publication: 
2024
Citation: 
[Journal:] Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology [ISSN:] 2044-8325 [Volume:] 98 [Issue:] 1 [Article No.:] e12545 [Publisher:] Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [Place:] Hoboken, NJ [Year:] 2024
Publisher: 
Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Hoboken, NJ
Abstract: 
AbstractKnowledge 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.
Subjects: 
age difference
challenge‐hindrance stress appraisal theory
knowledge exchange
social comparison theory
upward social comparison
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Creative Commons License: 
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Document Type: 
Article
Document Version: 
Published Version

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