“Silent reactions”

A PLS-NCA study of workplace conflict and psychological contract breach

Dados Bibliográficos

ID21620190
AutoresKamini Kusum (Srishti Publishers and Distributors , New Delhi), Kusum Kamini (Srishti Institute of Art Design and Technology), Poornima Madan (0000-0001-9376-3055, Jaipuria Institute of Management Department of OB and HR, , Noida), Anshu Yadav (0000-0002-8096-0161, Amity University Amity Business School, , Noida)
Ano2026
Volume37
Fascículo1
Páginas104-127
Data de publicação2026-01-27
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoInternational Journal of Conflict Management (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1044-4068 • E-ISSN: 1758-8545
EditoraEmerald (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1108/ijcma-02-2025-0040
OpenAlexW4414190757
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas1
Referências citadas96

Purpose Taking conservation of resources (COR) theory as a theoretical base, the study aims to examine the role of psychological contract breach (PCB) as an underlying mechanism through which workplace conflict impacts employee silence. Task and relationship conflicts were considered two dimensions of workplace conflict, while three forms of employee silence (acquiescent, defensive and prosocial) were considered dependent variables. Design/methodology/approach Responses were collected from 430 employees working in the Indian Information Technology sector. Variance-based PLS-SEM and necessary condition analysis (NCA) were used to test the hypothesized relationships. Findings The results showed that task and relationship conflicts significantly impact acquiescent, defensive and prosocial silence. PCB significantly mediated the relationship between workplace conflicts (task and relationship conflict) and employee silence (acquiescent, defensive and prosocial). Practical implications This research’s implications are beneficial for organizations that want to assess the silence behavior of employees that arises due to conflict at the workplace and further breach of the psychological contract. Originality/value The study’s novel contribution examines how PCB mediates the association between workplace conflict (task and relationship conflicts) and the three silences (acquiescent, defensive and prosocial)

Conservation of resources theory · Prosocial behavior · Psychological contract · Role conflict · Silence · Conflict Management and Negotiation · Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior · Workplace Violence and Bullying