An uncertainty management theory on the effects of abusive supervision: The moderating role of future orientation

• Published in: Management decision 2019-11, Vol.57 (11), p.3079-3095
• Main Authors: Yang, Jih-Hua, Lin, Cheng-Chen, Fang, Shih-Chieh, Huang, Ching-Ying
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Behavior; Employees; Management styles; Management theory; Perceptions; Personality; Regression analysis; Social exchange theory; Structural equation modeling; Subordinates; Success; Supervision; Supervisors; Tenure; Variables; Victimization; Work environment
• ISSN: 0025-1747; 1758-6070
• DOI: 10.1108/MD-06-2017-0604

PurposeThe vast majority of research on traditional leadership focuses on effective and positive leadership behavior. However, scholars have begun to pay attention to the impact of negative leadership behavior on employees and the organization. Hence, the main purpose is to examine the effects of abusive supervision. While the literature does not examine the time future orientation of the effects of abusive supervision, the purpose of this paper is to fill up this gap and examine the moderating role of future orientation.Design/methodology/approachA total of 584 valid questionnaires were collected from respondents aged between 21 and 30 years old and analyzed using the hierarchical regression and structural equation modeling method.FindingsThe main results show that abusive supervision positively affects counterproductive work behavior and future orientation positively moderates both the relationship between abusive supervision and originality behavior and the relationship between abusive supervision and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB).Originality/valueThis study demonstrates the moderating roles of future orientation in the effects of abusive supervision, and thus deepens the understanding of the moderating effect. It departs from the prior works and presents a more detailed examination examines the distinct dimensions of personality traits. It makes three main theoretical contributions. First, it introduces uncertainty management theory as a means to interpret the effects of abusive supervision. Second, it contributes to the literature on abusive supervision. Third, it does not lead to discovery as an OCB and originality, conclusions which differ from the results suggested in past literature.