Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Management
Committee Chair/Advisor
Sharon Sheridan, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Kristin Scott, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Craig Wallace, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Philip L. Roth, Ph.D.
Abstract
Reflecting exponentially growing interest in resilience, defined as the psychological capacity to bounce back from setbacks and show improvement from pre-setback states, researchers have uncovered many aspects about the construct over the past few decades. Despite notable advancements, the current resilience literature lacks a cogent understanding of how the ‘self’ plays a role in explaining the mechanisms through which resilience influences individuals in organizational contexts. Specifically, despite the concept of the self being a critical part of individuals’ resilience stories, identity, or an understanding of ‘who I am,’ has been rarely incorporated to investigate how resilience influences behaviors, performance, and well-being in work contexts. In this dissertation, I draw from an identity-based lens to theorize that resilience, when deeply internalized and activated, functions as a work-based self-identity, which then shapes employees’ strategic and nuanced responses to work-related setbacks. Specifically, I posit that the motives to self-verify one’s resilient work identity as well as motives to be regarded as resilient by others influence how individuals respond to work challenges. I propose that resilient work identity is double-edged in nature, such that it fuels employees’ performance outcomes in the face of setbacks while carrying hidden costs for their well-being. I examine my research questions and test the hypotheses by employing a multi-method approach – that is, an online between-subjects experiment, a field experiment, and an experience sampling study – thereby providing converging evidence on resilient work identity.
Recommended Citation
Suh, Hyunji, "I Am a Fighter, but There's More to It: Examining the Mixed Effects of Resilient Work Identity on Employee Performance and Well-Being" (2026). All Dissertations. 4258.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/4258
Author ORCID Identifier
0000-0002-2511-2864
Included in
Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons, Industrial and Organizational Psychology Commons, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods Commons, Organizational Behavior and Theory Commons