Understanding Cyberloafing: A Systematic Literature Review of Workplace Antecedents and Behavioural Theories

Cyberloafing, defined as employer’s use of the internet and digital technologies for personal purposes during work hours, has emerged as a significant organizational behaviour with implications for productivity, cybersecurity, and employee well-being. This systematic literature review consolidates findings from 20 empirical studies published between 2000 and 2024, offering an integrated understanding of the antecedents, behavioural theories, and moderators that explain cyberloafing in workplace settings. Drawing upon frameworks such as the Theory of Planned Behaviour, Neutralization Theory, and the Job Demands-Resources Model, this review identifies job-related stressors (e.g. role ambiguity, role conflict, workload, workplace ostracism), personal traits (e.g. self-control, attitudes), and organizational factors (e.g. policy enforcement, leadership style) as primary predictors of cyberloafing behaviour. Additionally, cognitive mechanisms such as moral disengagement and the Metaphor of the Ledger, along with contextual variables like job satisfaction and mindfulness, are highlighted as key moderators. The findings reveal both detrimental and adaptive dimensions of cyberloafing, with some studies emphasizing its role in stress coping and psychological recovery. Notably, research gaps persist in cross-cultural comparisons, longitudinal designs, and the measurement of cyberloafing in hybrid and remote work contexts. This review attributes to the evolving discourse on managing cyberloafing, offering recommendations for future research, and practical interventions that balance organizational control with employee autonomy in the digital workplace.