IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jbuset/v199y2025i1d10.1007_s10551-024-05710-2.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Mixed Feelings About Supervisors: The Effect of LMX Ambivalence on Supervisor-Directed Behaviors

Author

Listed:
  • Lixin Chen

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Qingxiong Weng

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Anastasiia Popelnukha

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Hui Jiang

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

Abstract

Integrating norms of reciprocity, affect theory of social exchange, and ambivalence literature, we investigated how leader-member exchange (LMX) ambivalence influences employees’ interpersonal behaviors toward supervisors. Study 1, with a time-lagged field method, revealed that LMX ambivalence was positively related to both employee-rated supervisor-directed helping and deviant behaviors and that such relationships were mediated by emotional ambivalence toward supervisors. We also confirmed the amplification effects of workplace gossip about supervisors (WGS). Specifically, while receiving more positive WGS (PWGS) or less negative WGS (NWGS) could strengthen the positive relationship between emotional ambivalence and supervisor-directed helping behaviors, receiving less PWGS or more NWGS would accentuate the positive effect of emotional ambivalence on supervisor-directed deviant behaviors. Study 2 replicated our results with a scenario-based method and offered evidence for the mediating effect of emotional ambivalence toward supervisors. Study 3 included supervisor-rated helping and deviant behavior and a subjective measure of emotional ambivalence and again confirmed the mediating role of emotional ambivalence. Our findings extend knowledge of the interpersonal consequences of LMX ambivalence.

Suggested Citation

  • Lixin Chen & Qingxiong Weng & Anastasiia Popelnukha & Hui Jiang, 2025. "Mixed Feelings About Supervisors: The Effect of LMX Ambivalence on Supervisor-Directed Behaviors," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 199(1), pages 163-182, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:199:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-024-05710-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-024-05710-2
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10551-024-05710-2
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10551-024-05710-2?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Abhijeet K. Vadera & Michael G. Pratt, 2013. "Love, Hate, Ambivalence, or Indifference? A Conceptual Examination of Workplace Crimes and Organizational Identification," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(1), pages 172-188, February.
    2. Haesang Park & Jenny M. Hoobler & Junfeng Wu & Robert C. Liden & Jia Hu & Morgan S. Wilson, 2019. "Abusive Supervision and Employee Deviance: A Multifoci Justice Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 158(4), pages 1113-1131, September.
    3. Blake E. Ashforth & Kristie M. Rogers & Michael G. Pratt & Camille Pradies, 2014. "Ambivalence in Organizations: A Multilevel Approach," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 25(5), pages 1453-1478, October.
    4. Lixin Chen & Qingxiong Weng, 2023. "Authoritarian-Benevolent Leadership and Employee Behaviors: An Examination of the Role of LMX Ambivalence," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 186(2), pages 425-443, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Valeria Ciampa & Moritz Sirowatka & Sebastian C. Schuh & Franco Fraccaroli & Rolf Dick, 2021. "Ambivalent Identification as a Moderator of the Link Between Organizational Identification and Counterproductive Work Behaviors," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 169(1), pages 119-134, February.
    2. Aneka Fahima Sufi & Usman Raja & Arif Nazir Butt, 2024. "Impact of Peer Unethical Behaviors on Employee Silence: The Role of Organizational Identification and Emotions," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 190(4), pages 821-839, April.
    3. Mackey, Jeremy D., 2022. "The effect of cultural values on the strength of the relationship between interpersonal and organizational workplace deviance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 760-771.
    4. Xue, Jinjie & Liu, Junqi & Geng, Zizhen & Yuan, Hongping & Chao, Lei, 2023. "Why and when do paradoxical management capabilities matter to paradoxical pressure? An empirical investigation of the role of coopetition," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    5. Robert Heckert, 2019. "Challenges for a Multiple Identity Organization: A Case Study of the Dutch Blood Supply Foundation," Corporate Reputation Review, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(3), pages 101-119, August.
    6. Inga SHALEV & Adriana PRODAN, 2018. "Limiting Terms of Office for Directors as a Policy Change in the Israeli Nursing System," REVISTA DE MANAGEMENT COMPARAT INTERNATIONAL/REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL COMPARATIVE MANAGEMENT, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 19(2), pages 109-123, May.
    7. Khaksar, Seyed Mohammad Sadegh & Shahmehr, Fatemeh S. & Miah, Shah & Daim, Tugrul & Ozdemir, Dilek, 2024. "Privacy concerns versus personalisation benefits in social robot acceptance by employees: A paradox theory — Contingency perspective," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    8. Lim, Jia Hui & Tai, Kenneth & Kouchaki, Maryam, 2021. "Ambivalent bosses: An examination of supervisor expressed emotional ambivalence on subordinate task engagement," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 139-152.
    9. Kennedy, Jessica A. & Anderson, Cameron, 2017. "Hierarchical rank and principled dissent: How holding higher rank suppresses objection to unethical practices," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 30-49.
    10. Yonghong Liu & Chen Zhao & Zhiyong Yang & Zhonghua Gao, 2025. "The Effect of Abusive Supervision on Employee Job Performance: The Moderating Role of Employment Contract Type," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 196(1), pages 209-221, January.
    11. Liu, Xin Lucy & Lu, Jackson G. & Zhang, Hongyu & Cai, Yahua, 2021. "Helping the organization but hurting yourself: How employees’ unethical pro-organizational behavior predicts work-to-life conflict," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 88-100.
    12. Alshareef, Leena & Dietlmeier, Simon Frederic & Florian, Urmetzer, 2024. "Coopetition For The Greater Good. Exploratory study of coopetition management mechanisms in the pharmaceutical industry," MPRA Paper 120645, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Tariku Ayana Abdi & José M. Peiró & Yarid Ayala & Salvatore Zappalà, 2018. "Four Wellbeing Patterns and their Antecedents in Millennials at Work," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-17, December.
    14. Lenka, Sambit & Parida, Vinit & Sjödin, David Rönnberg & Wincent, Joakim, 2018. "Exploring the microfoundations of servitization: How individual actions overcome organizational resistance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 328-336.
    15. Stewart, Alex, 2020. "Family control, ambivalence, and preferential benefits," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 11(4).
    16. Wen Zhang & Wei Liu & Yingyee Wu & Chenlu Ma & Xiyao Xiao & Xichao Zhang, 2022. "How Fear of External Threats Plays Roles: An Examination of Supervisors’ Trait Anger, Abusive Supervision, Subordinate Burnout and CCB," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-15, December.
    17. Simão, Gustavo Leonardo & Antonialli, Luiz Marcelo & Netto, Túlio Carvalho C. de Souza & Santos, Antonio Carlos dos, 2017. "Strategic Institutional Management in Dairy Cooperatives – a theoretical appointment," Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural (RESR), Sociedade Brasileira de Economia e Sociologia Rural, vol. 55(4), January.
    18. Matthew Valle & K. Michele Kacmar & Suzanne Zivnuska, 2019. "Understanding the Effects of Political Environments on Unethical Behavior in Organizations," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 156(1), pages 173-188, April.
    19. Mingpeng Huang & Dong Ju & Kai Chi Yam & Shengming Liu & Xin Qin & Guangdi Tian, 2023. "Employee Humor Can Shield Them from Abusive Supervision," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 186(2), pages 407-424, August.
    20. Lalaounis, Sotiris T. & Nayak, Ajit, 2022. "Dynamic stability: Unfolding dynamics of vicious cycles in a design firm," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 137-150.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:199:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-024-05710-2. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.