How career growth relates to organizational citizenship behavior directed at individuals and the organization

Abstract

Past research has suggested that career growth is positively related to organizational citizenship behavior. Drawing on social exchange theory, this study investigated the possible boundary conditions of this relationship. Data were collected from 209 medical staff of a large hospital in China, following convenience sampling. Results of hierarchical regression analysis indicate that there was a significant positive relationship between career growth and both organizational citizenship behavior directed at individuals (OCBI) and organizational citizenship behavior directed at the organization (OCBO). Compared to OCBI, the positive relationship between career growth and OCBO was stronger. Further, leader–member exchange moderated the relationship between career growth and OCBI. Thus, we recommend that managers of organizations attach importance to employee career growth and the establishment of high-quality exchange relationships when motivating organizational citizenship behavior, especially OCBI.