Organizational Citizenship Giving, Receiving, and the Mediating Role of Support

Drawing on social exchange theory (Blau, 1964) we investigated the relationship between the receipt and instigation of organizational citizenship behaviors. In Study 1, we examine the reciprocal relationships between OCB-giving and receipt over three time- periods. Data were collected from 209 employees. Results suggest that the receipt of OCBs at one time period positively influenced engagement in OCBs at a subsequent time-period. However, engagement in OCBs at one time period did not predict the receipt of OCBs at a subsequent time-period. In Study 2, we examine a mediating mechanism to explain the relationship between OCB- receipt and OCB-giving. Specifically, we model perceived support as mediating the positive relationship between OCB-receipt and OCB-giving. Data were collected from 441 employee-coworker dyads. Results suggest that OCB-receiving indirectly influences OCB- giving directed to one’s supervisor and one’s organization through perceived supervisor support and perceived organizational support, respectively.