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<p>Although prior research on leader-member exchange (LMX) theory has predominantly focused on its positive outcomes, emerging studies have begun to reveal that high-quality LMX may serve as a moderating variable that exacerbates the negative effects of harmful antecedents. However, limited attention has been paid to how high LMX interacts with positive contextual factors to produce adverse effects, particularly with respect to employees’ work behaviors. This study draws on social information processing theory and attribution theory to examine the impact of the interaction between LMX and capacity-based LMX differentiation (CLMXD) on followers’ perceived overqualification and engagement in cyberloafing. Across two studies, a multi-wave field study using polynomial regression analysis, and an experimental study, we found that followers experiencing high LMX alongside high CLMXD reported significantly higher levels of perceived overqualification than those with low levels of both factors. Similarly, followers with high LMX but low CLMXD exhibit elevated perceived overqualification relative to those with low LMX and high CLMXD. Additionally, perceived overqualification mediated the interplay between LMX, CLMXD, and cyberloafing. These findings enrich our understanding of LMX theory by highlighting how even positive contextual factors, when aligned with high LMX, can lead to unintended perceptions and behaviors among employees.</p>

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Is high-quality LMX always a blessing? Exploring the impact of LMX and capacity-based LMX differentiation on followers’ perceived overqualification and cyberloafing engagement

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月7日

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  • Yuxin Liu,
  • Yang Luo,
  • Yun Chen,
  • Xuefei Wang

摘要

Although prior research on leader-member exchange (LMX) theory has predominantly focused on its positive outcomes, emerging studies have begun to reveal that high-quality LMX may serve as a moderating variable that exacerbates the negative effects of harmful antecedents. However, limited attention has been paid to how high LMX interacts with positive contextual factors to produce adverse effects, particularly with respect to employees’ work behaviors. This study draws on social information processing theory and attribution theory to examine the impact of the interaction between LMX and capacity-based LMX differentiation (CLMXD) on followers’ perceived overqualification and engagement in cyberloafing. Across two studies, a multi-wave field study using polynomial regression analysis, and an experimental study, we found that followers experiencing high LMX alongside high CLMXD reported significantly higher levels of perceived overqualification than those with low levels of both factors. Similarly, followers with high LMX but low CLMXD exhibit elevated perceived overqualification relative to those with low LMX and high CLMXD. Additionally, perceived overqualification mediated the interplay between LMX, CLMXD, and cyberloafing. These findings enrich our understanding of LMX theory by highlighting how even positive contextual factors, when aligned with high LMX, can lead to unintended perceptions and behaviors among employees.