Nimitha

@sms.cusat.ac.in

Assistant Professor
School of Management Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology

Nimitha


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https://researchid.co/1breeze

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management, General Business, Management and Accounting, Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management, Management Information Systems
36

Scopus Publications

Scopus Publications

  • More cohesion, more harm? A social information processing lens on toxic leadership, well-being and innovative work behavior
    Fousia Azeez, Nimitha Aboobaker
    Evidence Based Hrm, 2026
    Purpose Anchored in the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory and Social Information Processing (SIP) theory. This study investigates the paradoxical interplay between toxic leadership, team cohesion and innovative work behavior among professional students in higher education. It specifically explores how toxic leadership indirectly affects innovative work behavior through their well-being and whether team cohesion exacerbates or mitigates this relationship. Design/methodology/approach The data collected through structured surveys through purposive sampling were gathered from 453 professional students enrolled in science, technology and management programs across Indian higher education Institutions. Structural equation modeling using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using IBM AMOS 23.0 and moderated mediation analysis via PROCESS Macro 4.3.1 was employed to test the relationships. Findings The results reveal that toxic leadership negatively impacts professional students' innovative work behavior by lowering their well-being. Interestingly, this effect intensifies in highly cohesive teams. Moderated mediation analysis confirms that team cohesion amplifies the harmful pathway from toxic leadership to diminished innovation via well-being. Notably, a small but significant direct positive effect of toxic leadership on innovation emerged, suggesting adaptive innovation under stress. Social implications This study underscores the psychosocial vulnerabilities of students in demanding professional programs, who navigate high expectations, competitive environments and leadership pressures. It highlights the urgent need for emotionally supportive and psychologically safe academic settings. The findings call for institutional reforms, including preventative leadership training, inclusive peer support systems and regular wellness sessions to safeguard student well-being. In alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being, the study advocates for healthier academic cultures that foster resilience and innovation. Originality/value This study makes a novel contribution by centering the voices of professional students in higher education, an often-overlooked population in leadership research and challenging the traditionally positive framing of team cohesion. It introduces a counterintuitive insight: team cohesion, while typically beneficial, can exacerbate harm in toxic environments.
  • Advancing slow tourism research: an integrative review
    Safna Beegum A, Nimitha Aboobaker
    Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 2026
    Purpose This study aims to explore the evolving intersection of slow tourism and sustainability by adopting an integrative review approach that captures current research patterns and highlights emerging experiential themes. Special attention is given to an interesting and compelling cluster, immersive travel experiences that reflect how tourists engage more meaningfully with destinations. Design/methodology/approach A two-phase method was employed, and relevant documents for both the bibliometric analysis (N = 268) and the systematic literature review (N = 35) were identified using the SPAR-4-SLR protocol to ensure a structured and transparent selection process. The second phase was guided by the Theory-Context-Characteristics-Method (TCCM) framework, focusing on immersive tourist experiences identified through keyword analysis. Findings The study reveals a growing academic focus on themes such as sustainability, authenticity, and mindful travel, especially after 2019. The systematic review further uncovers a rising interest in the psychological and experiential aspects of slow tourism, including tourists’ emotional engagement, motivations, and reflective behaviors. However, notable gaps remain, particularly in the application of behavioural theory, green mobility innovations, and the integration of agricultural experiences into slow tourism models. Research limitations/implications As an integrative review based on secondary sources, the study is limited by the coverage of databases and indexing lags. Future research should extend empirical investigation into underexplored regions and apply behavioural and psychological theories through longitudinal and mixed-method designs to advance slow tourism scholarship. Practical implications The findings provide actionable insights for destination planners and policymakers, demonstrating how immersive, low-impact experiences can encourage longer stays, foster community engagement, and promote sustainable mobility. For practitioners, the review underscores the importance of integrating local food systems, heritage narratives, and place-based experiences to enhance visitor well-being and strengthen regional economic resilience. Originality/value This study provides a comprehensive and accessible reference point by integrating bibliometric and systematic review methodologies. It offers practical implications for tourism planning, theoretical model development, and policy design. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of how immersive slow travel supports global sustainability, specifically through responsible consumption and production (SDG 12) and sustainable communities and destinations (SDG 11), while enriching the tourist experience in more meaningful ways.
  • Redefining the rules: how optimal cyberloafing shapes the effects of workplace cyberbullying on employee well-being and retention
    Nimitha Aboobaker, Shanujas V
    International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 2026
    Purpose This study examines whether cyberloafing, traditionally viewed as deviant online behavior, can function as an adaptive coping mechanism that shapes the relationship between workplace cyberbullying (WCB), employee well-being, and intention to stay (IS). In response to inconsistent findings in prior research, the study clarifies the boundary between excessive cyberloafing and “optimal” cyberloafing (brief, low-intensity digital micro-breaks). The work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 8 by offering insights for safer and more supportive digital work environments. Design/methodology/approach The study employed a time-lagged research design, with a one-month interval between Time 1 and Time 2. Data was collected using structured questionnaires from 512 employees within India’s information technology sector. The statistical analysis was conducted utilizing IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24.0, Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) version 23.0, and Process Macro version 4.3. Findings Grounded in conservation of resources (COR) and Dysempowerment theories, results reaffirm that WCB significantly undermines employee well-being. However, cyberloafing moderated this relationship in a nuanced way: conditional indirect effects were significant only at low to moderate levels of cyberloafing. These patterns suggest that optimal cyberloafing may offer short psychological detachment that buffers resource loss, whereas excessive disengagement yields no such benefits. Direct effects of cyberbullying on IS remained non-significant. Practical implications The findings support the incorporation of structured digital micro-breaks, open communication, and workload-based management, rather than intrusive monitoring, as part of organizational well-being strategies. Such practices complement broader anti-bullying and hybrid-work policies. Social implications The study promotes responsible digital behavior and emphasizes the importance of digital micro-recovery for fostering healthier online and workplace interactions. Originality/value The study reconceptualizes cyberloafing by identifying its instances where it functions as a beneficial coping mechanism, providing a refined behavioral pathway within COR theory and advancing the understanding of digital coping in contemporary workplaces.
  • Cracks in leadership: a systematic mapping of toxic leadership literature
    Fousia Azeez, Nimitha Aboobaker
    International Journal of Ethics and Systems, 2026
    Purpose While several reviews have examined unidimensional negative leadership styles such as abusive supervision and authoritarian leadership, toxic leadership, defined as a multidimensional construct, remains underexplored. It encompasses a broader spectrum of destructive behaviors that narrower constructs fail to capture. Despite growing awareness of its harmful effects on workplace dynamics, a comprehensive and integrative analysis is lacking. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the literature on toxic leadership over the past 22 years, offering the first known hybrid review in this area. Design/methodology/approach This review was conducted in two stages. Stage 1 involved a bibliometric analysis of 256 articles using VOSviewer (version 1.6.20) to identify keyword patterns, influential clusters and highly cited publications. Stage 2 included an interdisciplinary review of 38 full-text articles, analyzed using the TCCM (Theory, Context, Characteristics and Methodology) framework to evaluate theoretical foundations and methodological trends. Findings The bibliometric analysis revealed three research clusters: toxic and destructive leadership, nurse leadership and workplace dynamics, and leadership, emotions and workplace relationships. The TCCM analysis showed dominance of social exchange and conservation of resources theories, with quantitative methods prevailing and healthcare as the main context. Although interest in toxic leadership is growing, gaps remain in theoretical diversity and contextual application. Originality/value This pioneering hybrid review offers a comprehensive perspective on toxic leadership, clearly distinguishing it from related constructs. Aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 8, it highlights the relevance of toxic leadership to organizational sustainability and employee well-being, offering insights for research, policy and practice.
  • AI assisted learning and research: an exploratory study among university students and scholars
    S. N. Archana, V. R. Renjith, P. K. Padmakumar, Shajitha C., Nimitha Aboobaker
    Discover Education, 2025
    Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies especially generative AI (GenAI) are promising to support the digital transformation of education system. This study investigates how university students and research scholars across Science, Social Science, and Technology disciplines utilise AI technologies for tasks such as understanding and learning, academic writing, literature searching, plagiarism detection, etc. A structured online questionnaire was administered to collect data among 500 students and scholars, achieving an 84% response rate (421 participants). The study employed chi-square test, phi test, Cramer’s V test and binary logistic regression analysis to statistically establish the association between the variables and to identify the predictors of AI adoption. The findings indicate that over 90% of respondents use AI to support their academic activities. ChatGPT (used for 4 activities) followed by Grammarly and Quillbot turned out to be the most popular ones. The study identified a significant difference in AI adoption across academic levels. Discipline influenced AI usage in one third of the respondent’s academic activities, whereas AI adoption remained gender-neutral across the cohorts. Social Science group exhibited a higher likelihood of using AI for plagiarism detection and literature reviewing. 9.7% of respondents stayed away from AI owing to unawareness, ethical concerns and trust issues. The results highlight the need for AI literacy programs and robust institutional policies to promote its ethical and beneficial use among academics. Such initiatives could ensure equitable access to AI resources and foster an informed user base capable of leveraging AI technologies effectively.
  • Choosing clean: Do Indian consumers intend to purchase microplastic-free personal care products
    Riya Kumbukattu Alex, Nimitha Aboobaker, Suja Purushothaman Devipriya
    Cleaner and Responsible Consumption, 2025
    Plastic microbeads in personal care products have raised significant environmental concerns, prompting regulatory interventions worldwide. However, consumer intentions play a crucial role in ensuring the success of such initiatives, particularly in emerging economies where market diversity and socio-cultural complexities exist. This study developed an integrative model combining the Theory of Planned Behaviour, Value Belief Norms, and Social Cognitive Theory to understand the pro-environmental behavioural intentions of Indian consumers towards microplastics in personal care products. A nationwide survey (N = 375) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with PROCESS macro analysis were conducted. The study identified ‘moral values’ as a critical determinant of Behavioural Intention, influencing decisions through two indirect multiple mediation pathways; the former involving ‘self-efficacy’ and ‘attitude’ (β = 0.119), whereas the latter includes ‘environmental knowledge’ and ‘attitude’ (β = 0.061). In this study, ‘observational learning’ exhibited a novel conditional moderation effect at moderate and high levels through ‘self-efficacy’ (β = 0.055) and ‘perceived behavioural control’ (β = 0.034), emphasising the role of social learning in shaping consumers’ intentions towards purchases. A baseline observation of this study noticed that younger, female, and scientifically educated consumers were more emotionally responsive and supportive of regulatory measures, while older and non-science background consumers preferred incentive-based approaches. The insights from this study will aid in developing responsible consumption patterns through targeted awareness campaigns, eco-labelling, influencer-led promotions, and educational curriculum reforms, which are linked to Sustainable Development Goal 12.
  • Emerging market dynamics: risk perceptions, perceived usefulness and E-pharmacy adoption
    Varghese Assin T.J., Nimmy A. George, Nimitha Aboobaker, Sivakumar P.
    International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing, 2025
    Purpose Despite the digital penetration in the larger consumer market, the adoption of e-pharmacy services is reported to be very low in emerging economies like India. In this context, the purpose of the current study is to examine the influence of consumers’ risk perception on their intention to purchase medicines/pharmaceuticals through online pharmacies. Furthermore, the study seeks to understand to what extent the perceived usefulness of online pharmacy mediates the relationship between different dimensions of perceived risk and purchase intention. Design/methodology/approach The study was conducted among a sample of 800 consumers in India who are familiar with online e-commerce. To ensure the homogeneity of the sample and hence the generalizations of results, inclusion criteria were set as not to include respondents who have made a prior purchase through e-pharmacy services. Self-reporting questionnaires were administered among the respondents, who were selected through a purposive and convenience sampling method. Measurement modeling and path analysis were done using IBM SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 24.0 to test the hypotheses and draw inferences. Findings Results revealed that consumers’ risk perceptions, such as financial, product, source and privacy risks, had a significant direct and indirect effect on their intention to purchase medicines through online pharmacies. India is the major universal provider of generic medicines. The insights gained from this study can help policymakers, corporates, consumers, distributors, retailers and marketing managers to frame effective strategies for improved usage of online platforms for procuring medications. Originality/value This study is pioneering in conceptualizing and testing a theoretical model linking consumers’ risk perceptions, perceived usefulness and intention to purchase through online pharmacies, particularly in the context of an emerging economy like India. Implications regarding facilitating and nurturing a conducive platform for online purchasing medicines and its outcomes are elaborated, thus striving to fill a gap in the existing literature. By examining the proposed framework through the lens of the technology acceptance model and theory of risk perception, this study seeks to add to the emergent literature on online pharmacies, especially in emerging economies with huge market potential.
  • Academic leadership and job performance: the effects of organizational citizenship behavior and informal institutional leadership
    Kamila Ludwikowska, K.A. Zakkariya, Nimitha Aboobaker
    Asian Education and Development Studies, 2025
    PurposeGrounded on the distributed theory and the social exchange theory, the current study investigates the determinants that positively influence job performance among educators within the realm of higher education in India. It particularly assesses the impact of perceived academic leadership on performance and explores the mediating and moderating effects of organizational citizenship behavior and informal institutional leadership.Design/methodology/approachEmploying a descriptive research design, this study encompasses a broad cross-section of faculty members from various higher educational institutions across India. Data were gathered from 826 educators using a snowball sampling technique, with questionnaires administered online. Each variable was measured using prevalidated scales.FindingsThe findings from the moderated mediation model indicate a significant indirect relationship between perceived academic leadership and job performance, which is mediated by organizational citizenship behavior. Furthermore, informal institutional leadership demonstrates significant conditional indirect effects, enhancing the link between academic leadership and job performance up to a threshold, beyond which its influence diminishes.Originality/valueThis study pioneers the exploration of academic dynamics beyond mere titles and ranks in the Indian educational sector. It delineates both the direct and indirect roles these dynamics play in enhancing faculty performance, providing a novel insight into the complexities of academic leadership.
  • Towards a sustainable workplace: investigating workplace cyberbullying and its relationship with employee wellbeing and intention to stay in remote and hybrid work settings
    Nimitha Aboobaker, V. Shanujas
    International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 2025
    PurposeThe advent of information and communication technologies in workplace settings has broadened the range of bullying behaviours that can manifest in the digital realm. However, there is a lack of knowledge concerning the impact of situational factors on employees' perceived cyberbullying within the workplace framework. Broadly, this study aims to investigate the effects of workplace cyberbullying on employees' wellbeing at work and their intention to stay with the organization, across two groups of employees: those who work in a fully remote mode and those employed in hybrid work arrangements.Design/methodology/approachThe current descriptive and time-lagged study was conducted among a sample of 373 employees who work in the information technology sector in India, in either fully-remote or hybrid mode. The study utilized self-report questionnaires, which employed previously validated questionnaires. The hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling and multi-group analysis using IBM SPSS, AMOS, and STATs Tools Package.FindingsThe results demonstrate that cyberbullying negatively affects wellbeing at work and employees' intentions to stay with the organization. Remote-work employees experienced higher effects of workplace cyberbullying on their wellbeing at work. Also, the indirect effect of wellbeing at work was more pronounced and influential among remote work employees than hybrid work employees, suggesting the need for tailored support and resources for remote workers. Multi-group analysis across employees working in remote and hybrid work arrangements revealed that the relationship between workplace cyber-bullying and wellbeing at work is statistically stronger for remote-work employees.Originality/valueThis study represents a novel approach to developing and evaluating a theoretical model that explores the relationship between workplace cyberbullying, wellbeing at work, and the intention to stay with the organization within the context of remote/hybrid work arrangements. The findings offer theoretical and practical implications regarding the impact of workplace cyberbullying on job outcomes and aim to bridge a gap in current research. Particularly, the study highlights the positive outcomes of hybrid work over remote work and offers recommendations to mitigate the negative experiences among employees who work remotely.
  • Green Consumer Choices: A Text Mining Analysis of Cloth Diaper Reviews
    Nimitha Aboobaker, Hashmy Hassan
    Global Business Review, 2025
    As global attention on environmental sustainability grows, this study explores consumer perceptions of baby cloth diapers, offering insights for marketing researchers and baby care firms. Using Python-based text mining techniques, 3,216 customer reviews from a major e-commerce platform were analyzed. Methods included sentiment analysis, word frequency, topic modelling, association rule mining and clustering to extract key consumer viewpoints. Results reveal generally positive sentiments but highlight inconsistencies between star ratings and review content, challenging assumptions in online consumer behaviour research. N-gram analysis uncovered recurring patterns in both positive and negative feedback, while association rule mining and clustering identified dominant themes such as comfort, softness, dryness, leak prevention, absorbency and material quality. The lack of specific brand mentions suggests a gap in brand recognition, signalling the need for improved brand management. This study not only enhances understanding of sustainable product adoption but also demonstrates the value of mining unstructured consumer data in emerging markets. The findings support practitioners in designing effective brand and product strategies and contribute to the broader agenda of responsible consumption. Overall, this research aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 12 by promoting sustainable consumer practices through data-driven insights.
  • Workplace Fun Fosters Employee Wellbeing: Exploring the Roles of Psychosocial Safety Climate and Psychological Capital in the Hospitality Industry
    Suneera K K, Nimitha Aboobaker, Mavoothu D
    International Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Administration, 2025
  • Psycho-social drivers influencing the adoption of asynchronous EdTech tools: a gendered perspective
    Rahul Rajan Lexman, Rupashree Baral, Nimitha Aboobaker
    International Journal of Educational Management, 2024
  • Exploring new frontiers of experiential learning landscape: a hybrid review
    Fousia Azeez, Nimitha Aboobaker
    Learning Organization, 2024
  • Echoes of dysfunction: a thematic exploration of toxic leadership in higher education
    Fousia Azeez, Nimitha Aboobaker
    Journal of Aggression Conflict and Peace Research, 2024
  • Nurturing the soul at work: unveiling the impact of spiritual leadership, interpersonal justice and voice behavior on employee intention to stay
    Nimitha Aboobaker, Zakkariya K.A.
    International Journal of Ethics and Systems, 2024
  • Unveiling the Impact of Influencer Attributes on Purchase Intention of Gen Z: The Moderating Role of Parasocial Interaction
    Eldho Babu, N. Maria Joseph, Nimitha Aboobaker
    Global Business Review, 2024
  • Family incivility and burnout: a moderated mediation model of life satisfaction and psychological capital
    Paul V. Maria Tresita, Nimitha Aboobaker, Uma N. Devi
    Evidence Based Hrm, 2023
  • Fostering entrepreneurial mindsets: the impact of learning motivation, personal innovativeness, technological self-efficacy, and human capital on entrepreneurial intention
    Nimitha Aboobaker, Renjini D., Zakkariya K.A.
    Journal of International Education in Business, 2023
  • Entrepreneurial cognition and premature scaling of startups: a qualitative analysis of determinants of start-up failures
    George Joseph, Nimitha Aboobaker, Zakkariya K.A.
    Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 2023
  • Workplace spirituality, well-being at work and employee loyalty in a gig economy: multi-group analysis across temporary vs permanent employment status
    Nimitha Aboobaker, Manoj Edward, K.A. Zakkariya
    Personnel Review, 2022
  • From family incivility to satisfaction at work: role of burnout and psychological capital
    Maria Tresita Paul Vincent, Nimitha Aboobaker, Uma N. Devi
    Journal of Organizational Effectiveness, 2022
  • Effectiveness of web-based learning environment: role of intrinsic learning motivation, computer self-efficacy, and learner engagement
    Nimitha Aboobaker, Muneer K.H.
    Development and Learning in Organizations, 2022
  • Workplace Spirituality and Employee Wellbeing in the Hospitality Sector: Examining the Influence of Fear of COVID-19
    Nimitha Aboobaker
    Psychological Studies, 2022
  • Workplace spirituality and employees' readiness for change as precursors to innovative work behaviour: An empirical examination
    Nimitha Aboobaker, K.A. Zakkariya, Manoj Edward
    International Journal of Intelligent Enterprise, 2022
  • Digital learning orientation and innovative behavior in the higher education sector: effects of organizational learning culture and readiness for change
    Nimitha Aboobaker, Zakkariya KA
    International Journal of Educational Management, 2021
  • Spiritual leadership and intention to stay: examining the mediating role of employee voice behaviour
    Zakkariya KA, Nimitha Aboobaker
    Journal of Management Development, 2021
  • Corporate social responsibility, organizational trust and commitment: a moderated mediation model
    Nimmy A. George, Nimitha Aboobaker, Manoj Edward
    Personnel Review, 2021
  • Workplace spirituality, work-family conflict and intention to stay: An intrinsic motivational perspective among teachers
    Nimitha Aboobaker, Manoj Edward, K.A. Zakkariya
    Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, 2020
  • Corporate social responsibility and organizational commitment: effects of CSR attitude, organizational trust and identification
    Nimmy A. George, Nimitha Aboobaker, Manoj Edward
    Society and Business Review, 2020
  • Collective Influence of Work–Family Conflict and Work–Family Enrichment on Turnover Intention: Exploring the Moderating Effects of Individual Differences
    Nimitha Aboobaker, Manoj Edward
    Global Business Review, 2020
  • Human capital and entrepreneurial intentions: do entrepreneurship education and training provided by universities add value?
    Nimitha Aboobaker, Renjini D.
    On the Horizon, 2020
  • Workplace spirituality and employee loyalty: an empirical investigation among millennials in India
    Nimitha Aboobaker, Manoj Edward, Zakkariya K.A.
    Journal of Asia Business Studies, 2020
  • Influence of digital learning orientation and readiness for change on innovative work behaviour: reflections from the higher education sector
    Nimitha Aboobaker, Zakkariya K.A.
    Development and Learning in Organizations, 2020
  • Family incivility, burnout and job satisfaction: examining the mediation effect
    Maria Tresita Paul V, Nimitha Aboobaker, Uma Devi N
    Benchmarking, 2020
  • Workplace spirituality, employee wellbeing and intention to stay: A multi-group analysis of teachers’ career choice
    Nimitha Aboobaker, Manoj Edward, Zakkariya K.A.
    International Journal of Educational Management, 2019
  • Work–family Conflict, Family–work Conflict and Intention to Leave the Organization: Evidences Across Five Industry Sectors in India
    Nimitha Aboobaker, Manoj Edward, Pramatha K.P.
    Global Business Review, 2017