The spillover effect of after-hours electronic communication on nurses’ cyberloafing: the mediating role of psychological contract breach

Background Considerable research has investigated the influencing factors of cyberloafing in the workplace. However, few studies have focused on the antecedents in non-work fields, especially for nurses. According to the effort-reward imbalance theory, this study aims to explore the spillover effect of after-hours electronic communication on nurses’ cyberloafing, and the mediating role of psychological contract breach. Methods A total of 282 nurses completed the online survey. PROCESS macro for SPSS was used to test how after-hour electronic communication affect nurses’ cyberloafing. Results After-hours electronic communication has a significant positive impact on nurses’ cyberloafing, and psychological contract breach plays a mediating role in the relationship. Conclusion Psychological contract breach was the linchpin linking after-hours electronic communication to nurses’ cyberloafing in workplace. This study provides a guide for healthcare organizations to reduce or manage inappropriate telework arrangements and strengthen nurses’ psychological contracts.