Transformations  in
Business & Economics

THE IMPACT OF PERSONALITY TRAITS ON SUBJECTIVE CATEGORIES OF COUNTERPRODUCTIVE WORK BEHAVIORS IN CENTRAL EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENT⁵
Dawid Szostek, Adam P. Balcerzak, Elzbieta Rogalska

ABSTRACT. The purpose of the article is to determine how the personality traits (Extraversion, Neuroticism, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness and Openness to experience) influence the extent of subjective categories of counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs) in Central European socio-economic environment. To meet that research objectives primary survey information from 454 professionally active people in Poland was obtained. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to analyze the empirical data. The proposed theoretical model was intended to determine how particular types of personality impact on subjective categories of CWBs (Abuse against others, Theft, Sabotage, Withdrawal). The empirical analysis confirmed that personality traits affect strongly counterproductive work behaviors. The highest influence on the Withdrawal was attributed to Agreeableness, whereas the Abuse against others was mostly influences by Extraversion. The Sabotage was mostly affected by Openness to experience and, finally, the Theft by Extraversion. Even though the empirical data was limited to Poland, the obtained results can provide important insight with respect to other countries from Central Europe, which are characterized with significant historical, institutional and socio-cultural similarities.

KEYWORDS:  personality traits, counterproductive work behaviors, Structural Equation Modeling SEM.

JEL classification:  M5, M12, M54, C30.

⁵Acknowledgments:  The project was funded by the National Science Centre, Poland, on the Decision No. 2019/03/X/HS4/00350.