Workplace micro-aggressions and affective consequences: the moderating role of emotional contagion

Abstract This study applied affective events theory to conceptualize micro-aggressions as affective micro-events and tested (1) the mediating role of negative affect in the relationship between micro-aggressions and (a) emotional exhaustion and (b) work engagement, and (2) the moderating role of emotional contagion in these indirect relationships. A daily diary design was employed with a sample of 40 participants over five consecutive days, resulting in 200 observations. The findings revealed that daily micro-aggressions were positively associated with emotional exhaustion and negatively related to work engagement through negative affect. Additionally, emotional contagion moderated the relationship between daily micro-aggressions and negative affect, with the indirect effect between micro-aggressions and emotional exhaustion being stronger for individuals with lower levels of emotional contagion. A similar pattern emerged for work engagement. These results provide valuable insights into the impact of daily micro-aggressions in the workplace and highlight the role of emotional contagion, offering important implications for future research in this area.