Light Triad as a Personal Resource for Employee Well-Being: Evidence from Prosocial Behavior and Reciprocity

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effects of the Light Triad on employee well-being in Federal Government Educational Institutions (FGEIs) in the Multan and Bahawalpur regions of Pakistan. Specifically, the research examines how the Light Triad traits (Kantianism, Humanism and Faith in Humanity) influence teacher well-being through the mediation of prosocial behavior and reciprocity. This research draws on the Job Demands and Resources (JD-R) framework and Social Exchange Theory (SET). Data were collected using a cross-sectional approach from teachers in 32 institutions across the two regions. Out of 536 responses received, 514 usable questionnaires were retained for analysis. The data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in RStudio. Results reveal that Light Triad significantly predicts teacher well-being directly, with complex behavioral-relational pathways and context-sensitive patterns. Specifically, in the high-demand public school setting, prosocial behavior was found to have an unexpected negative relationship with generalized reciprocity and a positive relationship with negative reciprocity. It is suggested by these findings for benevolent teachers, "defensive reciprocity" serves as coping mechanism to prevent resource depletion. The study provides critical insights for HR practitioners by indicating benevolent traits are fundamentally dependent on the exchange climate in producing desired well-being.