The employee green behavior and employee well-being nexus: A bibliometric analysis and review of seminal literature

Abstract

Purpose:This systematic literature review clarifies how employee green behavior (EGB) is conceptualized, synthesizes evidence on its links with employee well-being, and identifies its underlying mechanisms, and existing research gaps, through science mapping with a focused synthesis of seminal mechanisms.

Design/methodology/approach:Following the SPAR-4-SLR protocol, we analyzed 323 documents from Scopus and Web of Science (2012–2024) along with targeted seminal extension (2012–2018) using bibliometric mapping and a thematic synthesis of seminal articles. We built two evidence sets: (i) a mapping corpus for bibliometric analysis (n = 323) and (ii) a direct-nexus subset of workplace studies that jointly operationalize EGB and well-being and analyze their association (n = 20), supported by a targeted seminal extension (2012–2018) for in-depth conceptual analysis.

Findings:The results reveal that the field is expanding rapidly where Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and performance dominate its conceptual space. EGB emerges as a multilevel construct shaped by individual (e.g., affect, values, self-identity) and contextual (e.g., green human resources management, psychological climate, leadership) influences. However, direct tests of the EGB-well-being association remain rare, with patterns favoring indirect pathways (e.g., identification, self-esteem, trust, and sense of purpose) and boundary conditions (e.g., green psychological climate).

Originality/value:The review consolidates the limited direct evidence on the EGB–well-being association, integrates it with psychological mechanisms, and proposes testable multilevel propositions to enable cumulative, longitudinal research and practical measurement alignment.