The study collected data from a sample of National Guard members and their military supervisors. The participant's service included (but was not limited to) activities such as health care, engineering, administrative, and technical and non-technical training. Subordinates completed a survey measuring the amount of abusive supervision they experienced and how anxious or distressed they were. The supervisors completed a survey measuring how just they perceived their organization to be and their level of depression. "Organizations seeking to reduce hostility and aggression in the workplace may need to begin with the fair treatment of supervisors," the authors conclude.
This study is published in the Spring issue of Personnel Psychology. Media wishing to receive a PDF of this article, please contact journalnews@bos.blackwellpublishing.net . Personnel Psychology publishes applied psychological research on personnel problems facing public and private sector organizations. Articles deal with all human resource topics, training and development, performance and career management, diversity, leadership, rewards and recognition, and work attitudes and motivation.
Bennett J. Tepper is a professor of Managerial Sciences at J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University. He has written extensively on abusive supervision in organizations. Dr. Tepper is available for media questions and interviews.
Michelle K. Duffy, Christine A. Henle, and Lisa Schurer Lambert co-authored the study.
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Personnel Psychology