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Central European Management Journal

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Year 11/2024 
Volume 32 
Issue 4

How many friends at work are too many? The nonlinear association between the number of friends, social support and mental well-being

Maria Telecan
Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Petru Curseu
Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, Netherlands

Claudia Rus
Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

11/2024 32 (4) Central European Management Journal

DOI 10.1108/CEMJ-09-2023-0372

Article contents

Abstract

Purpose – We grounded this study in the Too-Much-of-a-Good-Thing (TMGT) meta-theoretical framework to disentangle the costs and benefits associated with workplace friendship in a military setting.
Design/methodology/approach – We collected data cross-sectionally through self-reports from 287 employees from the Romanian Air Force.
Findings – The number of friends had an inverted U-shaped association with perceived social support. Our results show that as the number of friends increases from 9 to 10, so does the social support. However, as the number of friends further increases above 10, social support tends to decrease rather than increase. Furthermore, we found that social support and all dimensions of mental well-being (emotional, social and psychological well-being) were positively associated. Moreover, social support mediated the relationship between the number of friends and the three dimensions of mental well-being.
Research limitations/implications – Our findings can help human resources policies in military organizations foster an organizational climate that cultivates friendship ties between employees, which is crucial for their social support and overall mental well-being.
Originality/value – This work provides additional information about the specific mechanisms through which the effects of workplace friendships on mental well-being occur.

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APA style

Telecan, Maria Ioana & Curseu, Petru Lucian & Rus, Claudia Lenuta (2024). How many friends at work are too many? The nonlinear association between the number of friends, social support and mental well-being. (2024). How many friends at work are too many? The nonlinear association between the number of friends, social support and mental well-being. Central European Management Journal, 32(4), 604-617. https://doi.org/10.1108/CEMJ-09-2023-0372 (Original work published 11/2024AD)

MLA style

Telecan, Maria Ioana and Curseu, Petru Lucian and Rus, Claudia Lenuta. “How Many Friends At Work Are Too Many? The Nonlinear Association Between The Number Of Friends, Social Support And Mental Well-Being”. 11/2024AD. Central European Management Journal, vol. 32, no. 4, 2024, pp. 604-617.

Chicago style

Telecan, Maria Ioana and Curseu, Petru Lucian and Rus, Claudia Lenuta. “How Many Friends At Work Are Too Many? The Nonlinear Association Between The Number Of Friends, Social Support And Mental Well-Being”. Central European Management Journal, Central European Management Journal, 32, no. 4 (2024): 604-617. doi:10.1108/CEMJ-09-2023-0372.

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