From proactive procrastination to proactive innovative behavior: the psychological transformation pathway based on conservation of resources theory

Based on Conservation of Resources Theory, this study examines how employee engage in proactive procrastination has an impact on proactive innovative behavior in the context of the psychological mechanism of resource allocate. This study constructed a dual-mediation mechanism for the effect of proactive procrastination on proactive innovative behavior, exploring the mediating role of job crafting and job withdrawal and the moderating role of trait regulatory focus. Our hypotheses were supported by data from 578 employees who frequently engaged in innovative activities. The results suggest that proactive procrastination doesn’t have a direct effect on proactive innovative behavior, but the mediating effects of job crafting and job withdrawal in this process have opposite effects. In addition, trait regulatory focus not only moderated the relationship between proactive procrastination and job crafting as well as job withdrawal, but also moderated the mediating effect of job crafting and job withdrawal, with the path of job crafting being stronger for employees with promotion-focus.