The Influence of Critical Thinking on Employee Creativity: Moderated-Mediation of Intrinsic Motivation and General Self-Efficacy

Abstract

This study constructs and tests a moderated mediation model by examining the mediating role of intrinsic motivation (IM) and the moderating role of general self-efficacy (GSE) to explore the impact of critical thinking (CT) on employee creativity (EC). The sample includes 467 Chinese employees. Empirical analysis results indicate that critical thinking positively influences employee creativity. Furthermore, intrinsic motivation plays a significant partial mediating role in the relationship between critical thinking and employee creativity. Additionally, general self-efficacy positively moderates the relationships between critical thinking, intrinsic motivation, and employee creativity. Specifically, when employees have higher general self-efficacy, the promoting effect of critical thinking on intrinsic motivation is enhanced, ultimately fostering employee creativity. These findings enrich the literature on critical thinking, intrinsic motivation, general self-efficacy, and creativity, and provide recommendations for the management field on how to enhance employee creativity.