A Study Examining the Spillover Effect Between Relational Distress and Work Performance with the Mediator Self- Esteem and the Moderator Self-Control

Abstract

The divorce rate in the Netherlands has increased and this is partly due to relational distress. Relational distress has negative consequences for a person’s health and well-being. This study investigated whether relational distress had a negative spillover effect on work performance. Relational distress is divided into severity of the problems, the count of the problems, and the maximum relational problem. Work performance is divided into task and contextual performance. In addition, the research measured whether self-esteem had a mediating effect and self-control had a moderating effect on the spillover between relational distress and work performance. This was measured by means of a study on a population consisting of clients of relationship therapists, in order to guarantee relational distress. The results of the analyses showed that there is a spillover effect of the subscale maximum relational distress on task and contextual performance. In addition, a mediating effect was found for maximum relational distress on contextual performance. The spillover effect is only found for maximum relational distress. This is mediated by self-esteem, only for contextual performance. This is a new study and an addition to the literature on the effects and consequences of relational problems on work outcomes. Future research into the different forms of relational problems and replication of this research is still necessary.