From role conflict situations to employees’ extra-role and hostility behaviors: the role of cynicism

Purpose This research highlights the importance of the well-being of police professionals, as they are responsible for ensuring public safety. Design/methodology/approach Using structural equation modeling and multigroup analysis on a sample of 180 public police officers, the study examines the mediating role of cynicism between role conflict and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and hostile behaviors. It also explores how personal resources—compassion and esteem—and job resources—social support—moderate these effects. Findings The findings reveal that cynicism fully mediates the relationships between role conflict and both OCB and hostile behaviors. Additionally, compassion moderates the relationship between role conflict and cynicism, social support moderates the relationship between cynicism and OCB, and esteem moderates the relationship between cynicism and hostile behaviors. Originality/value The study underscores the need for designing strategies focused on the human dimension and well-being of police professionals in the workplace.