Bump up daily positive affect and perseverance-promoting vigor at work day by day! The moderating effects of relational conflict

Purpose The present research aims to investigate perseverance and daily affect as antecedents of daily vigor at work. Furthermore, this research examines whether relational conflict acts as a cross-level moderator that influences the association between employees’ daily affect and daily vigor at work. Design/methodology/approach Using the experience sampling method (ESM), this research collected data twice a day over 10 workdays with a sample of 103 restaurant employees in China. Findings The results of hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) analyses show that perseverance and daily positive affect were positively related to daily vigor at work. The association between daily negative affect and daily vigor at work was nonsignificant. Moreover, relational conflict attenuated the relationship between daily positive affect and daily vigor at work and strengthened the association between daily negative affect and daily vigor at work. Originality/value This research adds to the literature on the antecedents of vigor by revealing how perseverance and daily affect impact daily vigor at work. By investigating relational conflict as a moderator, this research highlights the important role of interpersonal relationships in shaping the relationship between daily affect and daily vigor at work. The use of the ESM helps to enhance the ecological validity of our results.