1
Return

Cyber incivility, cyberslacking, and negative reciprocity: moderation of digital well-being

delete2026-07-24
delete0
PRE
AI
M
Muhammad Raza *
M
Muhammad Irfanullah Arfeen
M
Muhammad Ishtiaq Ishaq
A
Arbab Gul
T
Tayyaba Saleem
DOI:10.1080/02642069.2026.2705880delete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
The increasing use of digital communication in service organizations has introduced new workplace challenges, including cyber incivility, which can damage professional relationships and undermine employee performance. This study examines the effect of cyber incivility on cyberslacking, defined as employees’ use of the internet for non-work-related purposes during working hours. Drawing on social exchange theory, the study proposes a moderated mediation model in which negative reciprocity mediates the relationship between cyber incivility and cyberslacking, while digital well-being acts as a moderator. Data were collected through a three-wave, time-lagged survey of 394 public sector employees in Pakistan. The results of SmartPLS 4 analysis show that cyber incivility directly predicts cyberslacking and also indirectly influences it through negative reciprocity. Digital well-being weakens the direct relationship between cyber incivility and cyberslacking, but it does not significantly moderate the indirect relationship. This study contributes to the services management literature by explaining how digital mistreatment can lead to counterproductive workplace behavior. It also offers practical insights for promoting workplace civility and strengthening digital well-being in service organizations.
Keywords:
Cyber incivility
cyberslacking
negative reciprocity
digital well-being
网络不文明行为
网络‘摸鱼’
消极互惠
数字福祉

Journal

S
Service Industries Journal
IF:
7.4
Papers:
2.4K
Citations:
4.4K

Organization

D
de vinci higher education
Scholars:
29
Papers: 30
Citations: 0
Q
quaid-i-azam university
Scholars:
390
Papers: 196
Citations: 0
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

Citing Papers

Citing Papers