The influence of supervisor incivility on turnover intention mediated by emotional exhaustion: A moderating effect of self-esteem

This study focused on supervisor incivility and its relationship with employee turnover intention in the context of increasing issues and related research on workplace incivility globally. Based on conservation of resources theory, we proposed and tested a hypothesis regarding the mediating effect of emotional exhaustion in the relationship between supervisor incivility and turnover intentions. Additionally, from the perspective of self-verification theory, we proposed and tested a hypothesis about the moderating effect of self-esteem in the relationship between supervisor incivility and emotional exhaustion. A survey was conducted with employees in large and small companies for data collection and a total of 331 questionnaires were used for hypothesis testing. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed to test the hypotheses, and the results supported all hypotheses. First, supervisor incivility was shown to positively reltates to employee turnover intention. Second, it was shown that supervisor incivility influenced employees’ emotional exhaustion, which in turn affected turnover intentions. Third, employee’s self-esteem was found to positively moderate the relationship between supervisor incivility and emotional exhaustion. This study verified the mediating effect of emotional exhaustion and the moderating effect of self-esteem. Particularly, the moderating effect of self-esteem from the perspective of self-verification theory has theoretical significance in that it help explain the results of provious studies in which the moderating effect in negative leadership situations was contrary to the hypothesis. The result showing that supervisor incivility can be more negative for employees with high self-esteem suggests the need to seriously recognize the problem of supervisor incivility and to take preventive measures in practice. In addition to theoretical and practical implications, future research issues were discussed.