Mediating Effect of Job Satisfaction on Psychological Contract Breach and Workplace deviance among Police Personnel

Abstract

This study examined the mediating role of job satisfaction in the relationship between
psychological contract breach (PCB) and workplace deviance among a sample of 195 police
personnel selected from a State Police Command headquarter (104 males and 91 females) in
Ondo State, Nigeria. Their ages ranged from 26 to 49 years with a Mean of 37.08 (SD = 9.44).
Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was utilized to test the study hypotheses. Results
showed that PCB was positively related to workplace deviance (β = 0.41; p < .05) and
negatively related to job satisfaction (β = -0.32; p < .05). Job satisfaction had a negative
impact on workplace deviance (β = -0.29; p < .01). Finally, job satisfaction mediated the
relationship between PCB and workplace deviance (β = 0.11; t = 5.43; p < .01). These findings
suggest that if police management can fulfill police officers’ psychological contract, this
would enhance their job satisfaction, and in turn reduce their tendency of engaging in
workplace deviance.