TOO OVERQUALIFIED TO CARE: THE EFFECT OF CYNICISM ON OVERQUALIFICATION AND COMMITMENT

The purpose of this study was to understand the underlying process that takes place in the overqualification and commitment relationship. Based on conservation of resources theory and relative deprivation theory, I expected cynicism to mediate the relationship between overqualification and affective commitment, and relative deprivation to mediate the relationship between overqualification and cynicism. By using the job-demands resources model and equity theory, I also hypothesized that perceive organizational support would moderate the relationship between overqualification and cynicism, and that entitlement, benevolence, and equity sensitive would moderate the relationship between overqualification and deprivation. Results from 590 staff members at a southern university demonstrated that cynicism was shown to partially mediate the overqualification and affective commitment relationship, and relative deprivation showed to partially mediate the overqualification and cynicism relationship. Results for the moderation hypotheses were not supported. Implications and future directions are also discussed.