More depletion, less voice? The role of implicit voice theories and voice efficacy

Abstract

To reconcile prior mixed findings on the relationship between ego depletion and voice, this study introduces self-protective implicit voice beliefs as the key between-level boundary condition that determines whether ego depletion reduces voice. Based on the Quad process model, this study proposes a mediated moderation model and simultaneously considers the effect of implicit voice beliefs and ego depletion when predicting voice behavior. Data was collected from 128 employees across ten work days using an experience sampling methodology. The results indicated that self-protective implicit voice beliefs (SIVBs) moderated the relationship between daily ego depletion and daily voice such that the relationship was more negative when SIVBs were high, but turned insignificant when SIVBs were low. In addition, daily voice efficacy mediated the interaction effect of ego depletion and SIVBs on daily voice. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings were also provided.