The Impact of Religiosity on the Quality of Voluntary Accounting Disclosure: The Mediating Role of Managerial Narcissism

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MSc., Department of Accounting, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Payam Institute of Higher Education, Golpayegan, Iran.

2 Assistant Prof., Department of Accounting, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.

10.22059/acctgrev.2024.367669.1008872

Abstract

Objective
Religiosity is a key social norm that has a significant effect on the moral behavior of managers. Religious managers are less likely to make unethical judgments and decisions. An ethical manager is expected to provide high-quality voluntary disclosure to reduce information asymmetry. Religion is considered a source of moral behavior and will have a significant effect on the behavior of managers, including their disclosure behavior. Moreover, narcissistic managers manipulate financial reports by not disclosing important information. They try to achieve their goals by reducing discretionary information disclosure to stakeholders. In addition, religiosity influences the quality of financial reporting by enhancing the moral dimension of managers' performance. Therefore, it is expected that religiosity impacts the phenomenon of narcissism and, in turn, positively affects the voluntary disclosure of information. Therefore, the purpose of the current research is to investigate the effect of religiosity on the quality of voluntary disclosure of information, emphasizing the mediating role of managers' narcissism as one of the most important factors influencing information disclosure.
Methods
The current research is quantitative in terms of the implementation method. The collected data was analyzed by structural equations. The research tool was a standard questionnaire and research variables were evaluated by it. The statistical population of the research includes financial managers who were selected as the research sample by using Cochran's formula.
Results
The results of the structural equation model analysis showed that for the first hypothesis, religiosity has a significant effect on the quality of disclosure. Also, the resulting standard path coefficient proved the positive effect of religiosity on the quality of voluntary disclosure. Therefore, the first hypothesis of the research was confirmed with a direct and positive relationship. In the second hypothesis, the effect of religiosity on narcissism was investigated, and its significance was confirmed. The resulting standard path coefficient also showed the positive effect of religiosity on narcissism. Therefore, the second hypothesis of the research was not rejected with a direct and positive relationship. In the third hypothesis, the direct effect of narcissism on the quality of voluntary disclosure was investigated, and the findings asserted the significance of the path. Also, the resulting standard path coefficient showed the negative effect of narcissism on the quality of voluntary disclosure. Therefore, the second hypothesis was confirmed with a direct and negative relationship. In the fourth hypothesis, the mediating role of narcissism on the relationship between religiosity and the quality of voluntary disclosure was investigated and the findings showed that the narcissism of managers with a positive influence of religiosity has a significant effect on the quality of voluntary disclosure. Also, the standard path coefficient showed the positive effect of religiosity on the quality of voluntary disclosure through managers' narcissism. Therefore, the fourth research hypothesis was not rejected with an indirect and positive relationship.
Conclusion
The results showed that religiosity is a strong and effective behavioral stimulus influencing the quality of voluntary disclosure of information, while narcissism is an effective obstacle to the quality of voluntary disclosure of information. Religiosity will not only neutralize its effect but also improve the quality of voluntary disclosure of information. The findings of the research contribute to the literature on religiosity and moral values within economic and commercial systems and enhance the quality of financial reporting by emphasizing informal principles such as religiosity.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

 
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Accounting and Auditing Review
Volume 31, Issue 3
2024
Pages 461-491

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