Should We Befriend Those with Which We Work? An Identity-Based Approach to Multiplexity and Authenticity

• In Event: 4467 - Section on Social Psychology Refereed Roundtables (Cosponsored with Section on Sociology of Emotions)
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: Table 10: Social Ties and Relationships

Abstract

Much literature shows that befriending co-workers increases job performance and decreases turnover. However, emerging work suggests more mixed self-outcomes for individual well-being. In this paper, I add to this work by examining how the overlap between co-worker and friendship networks (i.e., multiplexity) impacts feelings of authenticity through two identity-relevant concepts with competing effects: self-complexity (SC), or the degree to which individuals view two or more identities as related, and self-view misalignment (SVM), or the degree to which identity meanings do not correspond across two identities. Theoretically, multiplexity should decrease SC and low SC should increase authenticity, while multiplexity should increase SVM and SVM should decrease authenticity. Using egocentric network survey data from 500 U.S. adults, structural equation model results best support the former set of expectations, and SC fully mediates the impact of multiplexity on authenticity. In sum, co-worker friendship multiplexity appears to be beneficial by leading individuals to view the co-worker and friend identities as related aspects of self.

Author

• Kelly Lorraine Markowski, Kent State University