Trait resilience and resilient behavior at work: The mediating role of the learning climate

Abstract

Although the positive effects of resilience at work are well documented, the mechanisms that explain the translation of trait resilience into resilient behavior at work remain unclear. Drawing on person-environment fit theory in conjunction with trait-activation theory and utilizing two-wave data of Dutch employees, we investigated whether and which learning-supportive environment (i.e., a perception of learning climate) mediates the effects of trait resilience as a personal characteristic on behavioral resilience at work. Our results indicate that an appreciation learning climate as well as a facilitating learning climate mediate the relationship between trait resilience and resilient behavior at work. Taken together, this study suggests that managers should be cautious encouraging perceptions of error avoidance within their organizations.

Keywords

• Trait resilience
• Resilient behaviors
• Learning climate
• Person-environment fit
• Trait activation