Suffering in Silence: Investigating the Role of Fear in the Relationship Between Abusive Supervision and Defensive Silence

Author(s)

Christian Kiewitz, University of DaytonFollow
Simon Lloyd D. Restubog, Australian National University
Mindy K. Shoss, University of Central Florida
Patrick Raymund James M. Garcia, University of Vermont
Robert L. Tang, De La Salle - College of St. Benilde, Manila, Philippines

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2016

Publication Source

Journal of Applied Psychology

Abstract

Drawing from an approach-avoidance perspective, we examine the relationships between subordinates’ perceptions of abusive supervision, fear, defensive silence, and ultimately abusive supervision at a later time point. We also account for the effects of subordinates’ assertiveness and individual perceptions of a climate of fear on these predicted mediated relationships. We test this moderated mediation model with data from three studies involving different sources collected across various measurement periods. Results corroborated our predictions by showing (a) a significant association between abusive supervision and subordinates’ fear, (b) second-stage moderation effects of subordinates’ assertiveness and their individual perceptions of a climate of fear in the abusive supervision–fear– defensive silence relationship (with lower assertiveness and higher levels of climate-of-fear perceptions exacerbating the detrimental effects of fear resulting from abusive supervision), and (c) first-stage moderation effects of subordinates’ assertiveness and climate-of-fear perceptions in a model linking fear to defensive silence and abusive supervision at a later time. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Inclusive pages

731-742

ISBN/ISSN

0021-9010

Document Version

Postprint

Comments

The document available for download is the authors' accepted manuscript, provided in compliance with the publisher's policy on self-archiving. Permission documentation is on file. Note: This paper is not the copy of record and may not exactly replicate the authoritative document published in the APA journal. Please do not copy or cite without author's permission. The version of record is available using the DOI provided: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/apl0000074

Copyright

Copyright © 2016, American Psychological Association

Publisher

American Psychological Association

Volume

101

Issue

5

Peer Reviewed

yes

Keywords

abusive supervision, assertiveness, defensive silence, fear, workplace victimization

eCommons Citation

Kiewitz, Christian; Restubog, Simon Lloyd D.; Shoss, Mindy K.; Garcia, Patrick Raymund James M.; and Tang, Robert L., "Suffering in Silence: Investigating the Role of Fear in the Relationship Between Abusive Supervision and Defensive Silence" (2016). Management and Marketing Faculty Publications. 69.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/mgt_fac_pub/69