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Antecedents of Abusive Supervision: a Meta-analytic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Yucheng Zhang

    (Southwestern University of Finance and Economics)

  • Timothy C. Bednall

    (Swinburne University of Technology)

Abstract

Recent studies of organizational behavior have witnessed a growing interest in unethical leadership, leading to the development of abusive supervision research. Given the increasing interest in the causes of abusive supervision, this study proposes an organizing framework for its antecedents and tests it using meta analysis. Based on an analysis of effect sizes drawn from 74 studies, comprising 30,063 participants, the relationship between abusive supervision and different antecedent categories are examined. The results generally support expected relationships across the four categories of abusive antecedents, including: supervisor related antecedents, organization related antecedents, subordinate related antecedents, and demographic characteristics of both supervisors and subordinates. In addition, possible moderators that can also influence the relationships between abusive supervision and its antecedents are also examined. The significance and implications of different level factors in explaining abusive supervision are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Yucheng Zhang & Timothy C. Bednall, 2016. "Antecedents of Abusive Supervision: a Meta-analytic Review," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 139(3), pages 455-471, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:139:y:2016:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-015-2657-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-015-2657-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Samuel Aryee & Li-Yun Sun & Zhen Xiong George Chen & Yaw A. Debrah, 2008. "Abusive Supervision and Contextual Performance: The Mediating Role of Emotional Exhaustion and the Moderating Role of Work Unit Structure," Management and Organization Review, The International Association for Chinese Management Research, vol. 4(3), pages 393-411, November.
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    4. Brown, Michael E. & Trevino, Linda K. & Harrison, David A., 2005. "Ethical leadership: A social learning perspective for construct development and testing," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 97(2), pages 117-134, July.
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    6. Aryee, Samuel & Sun, Li-Yun & Chen, Zhen Xiong George & Debrah, Yaw A., 2008. "Abusive Supervision and Contextual Performance: The Mediating Role of Emotional Exhaustion and the Moderating Role of Work Unit Structure," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 4(3), pages 393-411, November.
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