Abusive supervision and subordinate proactive behavior : A stress perspective

Drawing on transactional model of stress, we propose that (a) abusive supervision is negatively related to subordinate proactive behavior; and (b) there is an interaction among abusive supervision, organizational identification, and positive affectivity that impacts proactive behavior, such that when organizational identification is low and positive affectivity is high, the relationship between abusive supervision and proactive behavior is the most negative. Two multisource studies found that abusive supervision was negatively associated with personal initiative in Study 1 and supervisory proactive behavior in Study 2. Moreover, the three-way interaction of abusive supervision, organizational identification and positive affectivity on personal initiative in Study 1 and organizational, supervisory and coworker-directed proactive behaviors in Study 2 were all significant. Finally, we discuss theoretical and managerial implications, and indicate future research directions.