The Mediating Role of Anxious Attachment Style in the Effect of Envy on Altruistic Behavior Among Bank Employees

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of envy on altruistic behavior among bank employees and examines the mediating role of anxious attachment style in this relationship. Drawing on attachment theory, the study argues that individuals with anxious attachment are more prone to experience envy in competitive work settings and that this, in turn, reduces their willingness to engage in altruistic behaviors, a key dimension of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Data were collected from 190 employees working in public and private banks in Turkey through an online survey. The measures included the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory-II, the Benign and Malicious Envy Scale (BeMaS), and the Organizational Citizenship Behavior Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS, AMOS, and PROCESS Macro. Correlation results showed that envy was negatively related to altruism and positively related to anxious attachment, while anxious attachment was negatively associated with altruism. Mediation analysis confirmed that anxious attachment partially mediated the relationship between envy and altruism. These findings indicate that employees with higher levels of anxious attachment tend to experience envy more strongly, which, in turn, undermines their altruistic behaviors in the workplace. Theoretical and practical implications are noteworthy. The study contributes to the literature by examining the interplay between envy, altruism, and anxious attachment style in a single model—an area that has been scarcely studied. By focusing on the banking sector, which is characterized by intense competition and performance pressure, the research provides a valuable sector-specific contribution. From a practical perspective, the findings suggest that organizations should promote a culture of trust and psychological safety in order to reduce the harmful effects of envy and support altruistic behaviors. Human resource practices such as mentoring, emotional awareness training, and programs designed to strengthen attachment security may help promote altruistic behaviors and foster organizational citizenship.

Keywords

• Altruistic Behavior
• Envy
• Anxious Attachment Style
• Mediating Effect.

Banka Çalışanlarında Haset Duygusunun Özgeci Davranış Üzerindeki Etkisinde Kaygılı Bağlanma Stilinin Aracı Rolü

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, bankacılık sektöründe çalışanlar arasında hissedilen haset duygusunun özgeci davranış üzerindeki etkisini ve bu ilişkide kaygılı bağlanma stilinin aracılık rolünü incelemektir. Araştırmanın özgün yönü, söz konusu üç değişkeni aynı modelde ele alarak literatürdeki sınırlı çalışmalara katkı sağlamasıdır. Türkiye’de kamu ve özel bankalarda çalışan 190 kişiden çevrimiçi anket yoluyla veri toplanmıştır. Ölçüm araçları olarak Yakın İlişkilerde Yaşantılar Envanteri-II, Haset Ölçeği (BeMaS) ve Örgütsel Vatandaşlık Davranışı Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Bulgular, işyerinde hissedilen haset duygusu ile özgecilik arasında negatif; haset ile kaygılı bağlanma arasında pozitif; kaygılı bağlanma ile özgecilik arasında negatif ilişkiler bulunduğunu göstermektedir. Ayrıca, kaygılı bağlanma stilinin haset ile özgecilik arasındaki ilişkide kısmi aracı rol üstlendiği belirlenmiştir. Araştırma, rekabetin yoğun olduğu bankacılık sektöründe duygusal süreçlerin işyeri davranışlarına etkisini anlamaya yönelik özgün katkılar sunmaktadır. Uygulama açısından ise, örgütlerde güven ve psikolojik güvenliğin teşvik edilmesinin, haset duygusunun olumsuz

Keywords

• Özgeci Davranış
• Haset
• Kaygılı Bağlanma Stili
• Aracı Etki.

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