The relationship between stressors and Chinese employees' innovative work behavior: the role of task crafting and psychological detachment

Purpose This study aims to explore the boundary conditions of the relationship between challenge-hindrance stressors and innovative work behavior via task crafting and psychological detachment. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected from 238 questionnaires in five technology R&D enterprises in Tianjin, China. The paper utilized structural equation modeling and cross-sectional design to test hypotheses by AMOS and examined the mediating and moderating effects using the bootstrapping method by SPSS. Findings Challenge stressors indirectly improved innovative work behavior via task crafting, while hindrance stressors did not affect task crafting or innovative work behavior. Psychological detachment moderated the relationship between challenge stressors and innovative work behavior. When psychological detachment was high, innovative work behavior did not change regardless of challenge stressors. When psychological detachment was low, innovative work behavior increased with the increase of challenge stressors. Originality/value The study explains the link mechanism between stressors and innovative work behavior. It enriches the research on psychological detachment as a moderator and provides a new frame for enterprises to develop employees' innovation.