Interpersonal work relationships and emotional reactions in teams: A co-worker dyadic analysis

Abstract

This study develops and tests a model linking leader-member exchange relationships (LMX), social comparison orientation and emotional reactions in co-worker dyads within work teams. Specifically, we examine the moderating role of social comparison orientation on the relationship between co-workers' LMX and their emotional reactions towards each other in different dyads in teams. Results revealed that when individuals' social comparison orientation is high, similar LMX relationships between co-workers and their leader lead the co-workers to experience more positive emotions (e.g., sympathy) and less negative emotions (e.g., contempt) towards each other. When social comparison orientation is low, the similarity or dissimilarity of LMX relationships between co-workers and their leader is unrelated to the interpersonal emotions the co-workers experience towards each other.