The Moderating Role of Leader-Member Exchange in the Relationship of Proactive Personality and Psychological Capital with Thriving at Work

Abstract

Thriving at work, consisting of the dimensions learning and vitality, is related to many positive individual and organizational outcomes. Proactive personality and psychological capital (PsyCap) are positively related to thriving and leader-member exchange (LMX) is thought to moderate this relationship. The purpose of this study is to examine this relationship and examine results for learning and vitality separately next to overall thriving. Data was collected with an online questionnaire from 105 Dutch employees. The results showed no relationship between proactive personality and thriving. PsyCap related positively to thriving and vitality, but not to learning. LMX positively moderated the relationship of proactive personality with thriving and vitality, and negatively moderated the relationship between PsyCap and thriving. Recommendations for future research were provided. These results are of value for the scientific field as well as managerial practice. Keywords: thriving at work, learning, vitality, leader-member exchange, proactive personality, psychological capital.