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Expectation or stress? How and when subordinates adopt promotive and prohibitive voice in response to leader empowering behavior

Author

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  • Chen, Chong
  • Zhang, Mingyu
  • Xu, Cong
  • Zhang, Yihua

Abstract

This research constructs a moderated mediation model to explore the mediating psychological mechanisms and boundary conditions of leader empowering behavior on promotive and prohibitive voice. Drawing on cognitive appraisal theory, we propose two explanatory paths. First, leader empowering behavior stimulates subordinates’ perceived performance expectations, which induces them to engage in promotion-oriented cognitive crafting and issue more promotive voice and less prohibitive voice. Second, the extra tasks and responsibilities gained in the empowerment process induce subordinates’ perceptions of work stress, which leads them to engage in prevention-oriented cognitive crafting and curb the proposal of promotive and prohibitive voice. Our study further tests how leader behavioral integrity moderates the indirect relationship between these variables. The results of a four-wave, two-source field survey and a scenario-based experiment support all hypotheses. These findings offer important theoretical and practical implications and point the way for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Chong & Zhang, Mingyu & Xu, Cong & Zhang, Yihua, 2026. "Expectation or stress? How and when subordinates adopt promotive and prohibitive voice in response to leader empowering behavior," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:205:y:2026:i:c:s0148296325007337
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115910
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