“Trapped in the spiral”
How abusive supervision fuels quiet quitting through employee cynicism and acquiescent silence
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21620274 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Anubhuti Saxena (0000-0001-8934-2098, Bennett University School of Management, , Greater Noida), Muskan Khan (Galgotias College of Engineering and Technology Department of Management Studies, , Greater Noida), Arpana Kumari (0000-0001-8752-674X, Symbiosis International University Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies Noida, , Pune) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-22 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-23 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Conflict Management (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1044-4068 • E-ISSN: 1758-8545 |
| Publisher | Emerald (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1108/ijcma-08-2025-0279 |
| OpenAlex | W7138944682 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 87 |
Purpose The study aims to examine the impact of abusive supervision (AS) on quiet quitting (QQ) in the Indian hospitality industry. Grounded in the job demands–resources (JD-R) theory, it explores the mediating role of employee cynicism (EC) and acquiescent silence (ACS) and the moderating effect of employee resilience (ER). Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a quantitative research design and the data were collected from 289 employees working in hotels across Delhi NCR. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses. Findings The results revealed a significant positive relationship between AS and QQ. The mediation analysis confirmed that EC and ACS act as critical pathways through which AS leads to QQ. Additionally, ER moderated and buffered the negative effects of AS and EC on QQ but not the direct impact of ACS. Practical implications The hospitality industry must address AS to prevent toxic work environments and reduce QQ. Prioritizing leadership training, enhancing employee resilience and enforcing zero-tolerance policies through effective feedback mechanisms can mitigate disengagement and promote a healthier workplace. Originality/value This study contributes to the emerging literature on QQ by exploring psychological mechanisms in the hospitality context. It emphasizes the significance of resilience and supports the relevance of JD-R theory in explaining modern employee behavior
Abusive supervision · Burnout · Cynicism · Hospitality · Hospitality industry · Mediation · Moderated mediation · Perceived organizational support · Structural equation modeling · Transformational leadership · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior · Workaholism, burnout, and well-being
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| Highly cited | No |
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