To read this content please select one of the options below:

How to attenuate the effects of abusive supervision on knowledge hiding: the neutralizing roles of coworker support and individual characteristics

Qi Hao (Qi Hao is based at the School of Information Resource Management, Renmin University, Beijing, China)
Kou Wei (Kou Wei is based at the School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University, Beijing, China)
Bin Zhang (Bin Zhang is based at the School of Information Resource Management, Renmin University, Beijing, China)

Journal of Knowledge Management

ISSN: 1367-3270

Article publication date: 21 January 2022

Issue publication date: 26 July 2022

986

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to theoretically discuss and empirically test the mediating effect of emotional exhaustion (EE) and the moderating effects of perceived coworker support (PCS) and positive affectivity (PA) in the relationship between abusive supervision (AS) and knowledge hiding (KH).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopted a three-wave survey to collect data from eight high-tech companies in north China. The final sample of 209 available responses was analyzed with hierarchical regression analyses and bias-corrected bootstrapping methods.

Findings

AS positively affected employees’ KH. EE fully mediated this positive relationship. PCS and PA attenuated the relationship between AS and EE, respectively, and the mediating effects of EE.

Originality/value

First, the study contributes to the knowledge management and leadership literature by examining the relationship between the following two dysfunctional workplace behaviors: AS and KH. Second, the authors explicitly tested the underlying psychological mechanism in the above relationship. Third, this study specified two ways – obtaining support from coworkers and generating positive emotions – to attenuate the toxic effects of AS on victims.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Funding: This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, and the Research Funds of Renmin University of China (No.21XNF043).

Citation

Hao, Q., Wei, K. and Zhang, B. (2022), "How to attenuate the effects of abusive supervision on knowledge hiding: the neutralizing roles of coworker support and individual characteristics", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 26 No. 7, pp. 1807-1825. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-02-2021-0167

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles