The Impact of Financial Precarity on Proactive and Unethical Pro-Family Behaviors: The Role of Financial Contingent Self-Worth and Family Motivation

Many employees face some degree of financial precarity, but its effect on behavioral work outcomes is poorly understood. Drawing on self-determination theory, we examined the roles of financial contingent self-worth and autonomous and controlled family motivation as key mediators linking financial precarity to proactive work behavior and unethical pro-family behavior. Study 1a developed a new measurement of autonomous and controlled family motivation among 342 employees. Study 1b assessed scale validities with a separate sample of 223 employees. Study 2 conducted a three-wave survey among 345 employees and their supervisors showing that financial contingent self-worth mediated the relationship between financial precarity and both autonomous and controlled family motivation. Moreover, autonomous family motivation was positively associated with supervisor-rated proactive work behavior, while controlled family motivation was positively associated with unethical pro-family behavior. Furthermore, we found a serial mediation from financial precarity to unethical pro-family behavior through financial contingent self-worth and controlled family motivation. However, the serial mediation from financial precarity to supervisor-rated proactive work behavior through financial contingent self-worth and autonomous family motivation was not significant. These results help to integrate disparate research on financial precarity and workplace behaviors by clarifying possible underlying mechanisms.