Standing on the shoulders of giants: Predictors of perceived overqualification and its impact on adaptive behavior

Utilizing affective event theory, the study investigates the roles of perceived organizational politics and boredom proneness as antecedents of perceived overqualification and its impact on adaptive behavior. Further, this research examines the mediating role of perceived overqualification between antecedents and adaptive behavior and the moderating role of meaningful work between POQ and adaptive behavior. This research obtained 289 responses from university lecturers and heads of departments of public and private sector universities in Pakistan using quantitative time lag study design and convenience sampling. Results indicate that perceived organizational politics and boredom proneness contribute to perceived overqualification. It has been found that the direct association of perceived overqualification with adaptive behavior is negative. This research found that perceived overqualification mediates the relationship between antecedents and adaptive behavior. Moreover, this research discovered that the relationship between perceived overqualification and adaptive behavior is positive when work is perceived as meaningful but negative when work lacks meaningfulness. The theoretical and practical implications, limitations, and recommendations for upcoming researchers are discussed.