Effect of Organisational Cognitive Cynicism on Workplace Deviant Behaviour: Moderating Role of Religiosity

Abstract

Workplace deviant behaviour has become a global issue of concern among scholars and policymakers. In Nigeria, the escalation of deviant behaviours in tertiary institutions remains a central issue. Among the factors studied in relation to workplace deviant behaviour, few, if any, have linked cognitive cynicism with workplace deviant behaviour in academic settings. Thus, this study examines the moderating effect of religiosity on the relationship between cognitive cynicism and workplace deviant behaviour among academic staff in tertiary institutions in Bauchi State. A cross-sectional research design was used to collect data from 511 respondents. The population of the study comprises all academic staff in federal and state-owned universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in Bauchi State. The collected data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) version 4. The results show that cognitive cynicism has a positive and significant effect on workplace deviant behaviour. Additionally, religiosity has a negative and significant effect on workplace deviant behaviour. In the moderation model, it was found that the incorporation of religiosity changes the nature of the relationship between cognitive cynicism and workplace deviant behaviour from positive to negative. Therefore, the study recommends that the management of tertiary institutions, government, and policymakers should fulfil their promises and make concrete efforts to reduce doubts and distrust among academic staff.