ABUSIVE SUPERVISION AS A PREDICTOR OF DEVIANCE AND HEALTH OUTCOMES: THE EXACERBATING ROLE OF NARCISSISM AND SOCIAL SUPPORT

Abstract

This study examined abusive supervision as a predictor of workplace deviance (organizational, interpersonal, and supervisor-directed) and employee health (depression and anxiety). Based on the threatened egotism hypothesis, I examined narcissism as a moderator of the relationship between abusive supervision and deviance. Based on the within-domain stress exacerbation hypothesis, I also examined supervisor support as a moderator of the relationship between abusive supervision and health. Data from 199 employees in HR/Organizational Psychology-related occupations supported the main effect hypotheses between abusive supervision and interpersonal deviance, supervisor-directed deviance, and depression. Narcissism moderated the relationship between abusive supervision and organizational deviance, while supervisor support moderated the relationship between abusive supervision and anxiety. Moreover, I conducted additional analyses in order to more fully investigate the relationships among the main study variables. I discuss the study's implications for future research and practice.