Abusive Supervision and Turnover Intention in Higher Education: Exploring the Role of Emotional Exhaustion and Resilience

Abstract

Purpose: This study examines the impact of abusive supervision on turnover intention among faculty members at private universities in Bangladesh. It examines emotional exhaustion as a mediator and employee resilience as a moderator. By using Affective Events Theory (AET) and Conservation of Resources Theory (COR), this study addresses the scarcity of research on the dark side of leadership in South Asian higher education, particularly using AET and COR together, and exploring the combined mediation and moderation model in this context. Design/Methodology/Approach: Data were collected from 319 faculty members at private universities in Bangladesh. SPSS v27 and AMOS v24 were used to analyze the relationships among abusive supervision, emotional exhaustion, resilience, and turnover intention. Findings: The results reveal that abusive supervision significantly increases turnover intention (β = 0.376, p < 0.01) and emotional exhaustion (β = 0.559, p < 0.01). Emotional exhaustion was found to mediate the relationship between abusive supervision and turnover intention, with a significant positive indirect effect (β = 0.141, p < 0.01). Furthermore, employee resilience was found to significantly weaken the positive association between emotional exhaustion and turnover intention (β = -0.159, p < 0.01). Practical implications: The study underscores the need to address abusive supervisory behaviors to reduce turnover intention. It highlights the importance of leadership development and resilience-building initiatives to improve faculty retention and organizational well-being. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the limited literature on abusive supervision in South Asia and emphasizes the protective role of resilience in mitigating its negative outcomes. It provides valuable insights for improving faculty retention and leadership practices in higher education.