Personality Traits and Employee Health Behavior: The Sequential Mediating Role of Exercise Motivation and Self-Efficacy

Mohanad Mohammed Sufyan Ghaleb

School of Business, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia.

Tuygunoy Mamadjanova

Termez University of Economics and Service, Uzbekistan.

Abstract

Employee health and well-being pose a significant problem in the harsh and stressful environment of the manufacturing sector, resulting in concerns such as poor productivity.  However, the literature suggests a direct link between personality and health behavior; research into the psychological processes and environmental elements that translate this association into practical behavior is lacking. The purpose of this research was to investigate the association between personality traits (Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness) and health behavior.  This research looked specifically at the direct effect of serial mediation of exercise motivation and self-efficacy, as well as the moderating influence of quality of life. To gather data, a survey was sent to 392 employees participating in manufacturing organizations' wellness initiatives using stratified random sampling.  The hypotheses were tested using the PLS-SEM approach and Smart PLS 4.0. The findings demonstrate that all three personality traits have a favorable impact on exercise motivation.  Exercise motivation has a positive and significant influence on self-efficacy, and in turn, self-efficacy has a positive effect on health behavior. Furthermore, quality of life positively moderates the link between self-efficacy and health behaviors. This research shows that managers and governments should tailor wellness initiatives to workers' personalities and highlight psychological elements.  In theory, this research contributes significantly to the literature by including quality of life as a resource in SCT.

Social Cognitive theory, Personality traits, Motivation, Self-efficacy, Health behavior.