Online sharing behaviors driven by need for approval: the choice of individuals with low social intelligence and high gratitude?

Knowledge sharing as an altruistic behavior has gained widespread attention. In the information age, online sharing is increasingly popular and has become an important way of exchanging and stimulating knowledge. Through a survey of 458 employees in China, this study examines the influence mechanism of need for approval on individual online sharing behavior and the moderating effect of gratitude and social intelligence. Study findings show that self-presentation has a mediating effect between need for approval and online sharing behavior, and individual need for approval can promote online sharing behavior by enhancing self-presentation. Gratitude and social intelligence both have positive moderating effects on the relations between self-presentation and online sharing behavior. Gratitude moderates the indirect influence of need for approval on online sharing behavior through self-presentation. Individuals with high gratitude and high social intelligence at the same time can strengthen the positive effect of self-presentation on online sharing behavior. Individuals can meet their approval need and obtain learning opportunities through online sharing behaviors. Organizations can select talents and obtain valuable information by establishing sharing platforms. Governments should also regulate online platforms for knowledge exchange as well as encourage individual online sharing behaviors.