The relationship among perceived overqualification, ego depletion and workplace deviant behavior: A systematic literature review

<ns4:p>Perceived overqualification (POQ) has been linked to a range of negative work outcomes, including workplace deviant behavior (WDB). However, the role of ego depletion as a potential explanatory mechanism remains insufficiently synthesized. This review aimed to integrate empirical evidence on the relationships among POQ, ego depletion, and WDB and to identify major gaps in the literature. This article was prepared as a systematic literature review in line with PRISMA principles. English-language empirical studies focusing on workplace samples were reviewed. Studies were included when they examined at least one focal construct relevant to the proposed chain linking POQ, ego depletion, and WDB. Existing evidence consistently indicates that POQ is positively associated with counterproductive and deviant work behaviors. The literature also suggests that resource-draining states, such as boredom, frustration, and emotional exhaustion, may help explain why POQ predicts harmful workplace behavior. In parallel, ego depletion has been widely associated with reduced self-regulation, unethical conduct, and deviant workplace behavior. Nevertheless, direct empirical tests of the full mediation chain from POQ to ego depletion to WDB remain limited. The current evidence supports a theoretically plausible connection among POQ, ego depletion, and WDB, but the literature remains fragmented. Future studies should directly test this mechanism using stronger designs, clearer construct differentiation, and cross-cultural comparisons.</ns4:p>