The Effects of Upward Social Comparison on Workplace Envy: Moderate of Gender Identification and Self-Esteem

Abstract

This study explored the influence of upward social comparison in organizational situations on workplace envy and the moderating effects of gender identification and self-esteem. Through the situation experiment, the results show that: 1) upward social comparison can lead to workplace envy among employees; 2) compared with employees with lower gender identification, employees with higher gender identification will generate more envy when facing upward social comparison; 3) in contrast to employees with low self-esteem, employees with high self-esteem will generate more envy when they make upward social comparison.