The Effect of Perceived Organizational Politics on Work Outcomes A Comparative and Moderating Analysis Across Generations X and Y

Abstract

This study investigates how perceived organizational politics (POP) is associated with four work outcomes—job stress, job satisfaction, cyberloafing, and self-efficacy—among Generation X and Generation Y employees. It also examines whether the two generational cohorts differ in the study variables and whether generation conditions the relationships between POP and work outcomes. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational, and comparative design, data were collected from 312 white-collar employees working in manufacturing firms in Istanbul and Kocaeli, Türkiye. The sample included 123 Generation X and 189 Generation Y employees. The data were analyzed through reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, simple regression analysis, independent samples t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and interaction-based moderation analysis. The findings show that POP positively predicts job stress and cyberloafing, whereas it negatively predicts job satisfaction and self-efficacy. Generation-based comparisons indicate that Generation Y employees report higher levels of job satisfaction and cyberloafing than Generation X employees; however, no significant differences emerge for POP, job stress, or self-efficacy. Moderation analyses reveal that generation does not significantly moderate the relationships between POP and job stress, job satisfaction, or cyberloafing. The only significant interaction is observed for self-efficacy, indicating that the negative association between POP and self-efficacy is stronger among Generation Y employees. By examining attitudinal, behavioral, and psychological outcomes in a single framework, the study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of how politically perceived organizational environments are related to employee responses across generational cohorts.