The Mediating Effect of Organizational Justice on the Relationship between Psychological Ownership and Constructive Deviant Behavior

This study examined the mediating effects of organizational justice on the relationship between psychological ownership and constructive deviant behavior. Psychological ownership is theorized to promote organizational interests, shared feelings of responsibility, and employee commitment and integration; therefore, suggesting that it will be associated with pro-organizational attitudes and behaviors. Further, according to social exchange theory and equity theory, when individuals perceive fair treatment and justice from their organizations, they are more likely to reciprocate their attitudes and behaviors toward their organization. Hence, organizational justice will be significantly related to constructive deviant behavior as constructive deviant behavior is voluntary behavior that is intended to be beneficial toward the organization as it can improve organizational effectiveness and prevent organizational wrongdoing. The study sampled 250 employees in the manufacturing sector in Korea. Structural equation modeling results found: (a) psychological ownership to be related to procedural justice and interactional justice and (b) procedural justice to fully mediate the relationships between psychological ownership with innovative constructive deviant behavior and organizational constructive deviant behavior.