Gossiping In the Office: Understanding Its Link to Psychological Distress and Subsequent Effects on Procrastination and Absenteeism among Pakistani School Teachers with Moderating Effect of Neuroticism

Abstract

The purpose of this research thesis is to examine the impact of workplace gossip on behavioral outcomes in the educational sector, specifically by analyzing the role of psychological distress as a mediator. The study aims to ascertain the influence of neuroticism on the indirect effects of workplace gossip on both procrastination and absence by using affective event theory among schoolteachers in Pakistan. This research study using a positivist method to examine the workplace gossip among primary school teachers in Pakistan. The study used a casual and deductive research style, applying a quantitative approach to collect thorough findings. The study's cross-sectional design allowed for the research of variables at a particular moment in time. This study employs a multistage cluster sampling, and the sample size was 384.Total 171 questionnaires were considered suitable for further data analysis. All the variables were measured on a Likert scale. For data analysis SPSS software was used. The results of the data analysis indicate that workplace gossip has a positive effect on psychological discomfort and absenteeism, but its influence on procrastination is not statistically significant. Psychological distress has a significant impact on procrastination and absenteeism. The results indicate that workplace gossip has a positive effect on both procrastination and absence by means of psychological discomfort. The moderated relationship of workplace gossip, psychological discomfort, procrastination, and absenteeism may not be statistically significant.