“Rat race” or “lying flat”? The influence of performance pressure on employees' work behavior
IntroductionPerformance pressure refers to employees' subjective perception of the necessity to achieve expected goals, accompanied by a sense of urgency and tension. This study explores how employees cope with performance pressure, focusing on two contrasting strategies: the “rat race” (proact...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1466463/full |
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| author | Qianyi Liao Jinsong Zhang Fangfang Li Shiyuan Yang Zhen Li Longhua Yue Cunfang Dou |
| author_facet | Qianyi Liao Jinsong Zhang Fangfang Li Shiyuan Yang Zhen Li Longhua Yue Cunfang Dou |
| author_sort | Qianyi Liao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionPerformance pressure refers to employees' subjective perception of the necessity to achieve expected goals, accompanied by a sense of urgency and tension. This study explores how employees cope with performance pressure, focusing on two contrasting strategies: the “rat race” (proactive work behavior) or “lying flat” (work withdrawal). Grounded in the transactional theory of stress and affective event theory, this research aims to uncover the mechanisms through which performance pressure influences work behavior.MethodsA moderated dual-mediation model was developed to examine the dual pathways of challenge appraisal and workplace anxiety as mediators in the relationship between performance pressure and work behavior. Data were collected through a two-stage survey involving 356 employees from various industries. Statistical analyses, including structural equation modeling, were used to test the hypothesized relationships.ResultsThe findings reveal that performance pressure has a dual effect: it simultaneously stimulates challenge appraisal, promoting proactive work behavior, and induces workplace anxiety, leading to work withdrawal behavior. Additionally, learning goal orientation moderates these effects. Specifically, it strengthens the positive relationship between performance pressure and challenge appraisal while weakening the link between performance pressure and workplace anxiety.DiscussionThis study highlights the complex and dual nature of performance pressure in influencing employee behavior. By identifying learning goal orientation as a critical moderator, organizations can better understand how to harness the positive aspects of performance pressure while mitigating its negative effects. These insights provide practical guidance for managing performance pressure and minimizing associated risks in the workplace. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1781b6b31e5c44edac883b513144ccbb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-1781b6b31e5c44edac883b513144ccbb2025-02-03T06:33:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-02-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14664631466463“Rat race” or “lying flat”? The influence of performance pressure on employees' work behaviorQianyi LiaoJinsong ZhangFangfang LiShiyuan YangZhen LiLonghua YueCunfang DouIntroductionPerformance pressure refers to employees' subjective perception of the necessity to achieve expected goals, accompanied by a sense of urgency and tension. This study explores how employees cope with performance pressure, focusing on two contrasting strategies: the “rat race” (proactive work behavior) or “lying flat” (work withdrawal). Grounded in the transactional theory of stress and affective event theory, this research aims to uncover the mechanisms through which performance pressure influences work behavior.MethodsA moderated dual-mediation model was developed to examine the dual pathways of challenge appraisal and workplace anxiety as mediators in the relationship between performance pressure and work behavior. Data were collected through a two-stage survey involving 356 employees from various industries. Statistical analyses, including structural equation modeling, were used to test the hypothesized relationships.ResultsThe findings reveal that performance pressure has a dual effect: it simultaneously stimulates challenge appraisal, promoting proactive work behavior, and induces workplace anxiety, leading to work withdrawal behavior. Additionally, learning goal orientation moderates these effects. Specifically, it strengthens the positive relationship between performance pressure and challenge appraisal while weakening the link between performance pressure and workplace anxiety.DiscussionThis study highlights the complex and dual nature of performance pressure in influencing employee behavior. By identifying learning goal orientation as a critical moderator, organizations can better understand how to harness the positive aspects of performance pressure while mitigating its negative effects. These insights provide practical guidance for managing performance pressure and minimizing associated risks in the workplace.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1466463/fullperformance pressurechallenge appraisalworkplace anxietyproactive work behaviorwork withdrawal behavior |
| spellingShingle | Qianyi Liao Jinsong Zhang Fangfang Li Shiyuan Yang Zhen Li Longhua Yue Cunfang Dou “Rat race” or “lying flat”? The influence of performance pressure on employees' work behavior Frontiers in Psychology performance pressure challenge appraisal workplace anxiety proactive work behavior work withdrawal behavior |
| title | “Rat race” or “lying flat”? The influence of performance pressure on employees' work behavior |
| title_full | “Rat race” or “lying flat”? The influence of performance pressure on employees' work behavior |
| title_fullStr | “Rat race” or “lying flat”? The influence of performance pressure on employees' work behavior |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Rat race” or “lying flat”? The influence of performance pressure on employees' work behavior |
| title_short | “Rat race” or “lying flat”? The influence of performance pressure on employees' work behavior |
| title_sort | rat race or lying flat the influence of performance pressure on employees work behavior |
| topic | performance pressure challenge appraisal workplace anxiety proactive work behavior work withdrawal behavior |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1466463/full |
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