When Abusive Supervision Leads to Knowledge Sabotage: Psychological Distress as a Mediator and Resilience as a Moderator

Abstract

This study explains the adverse effect of abusive supervision on knowledge sabotage in the hospitality industry in terms of psychological distress as an intermediary variable and resilience as a moderating variable. Purposive sampling was used to collect data from 287 employees in 26 hospitality organizations in Northern India. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the data. The results show that abusive supervision strongly influences knowledge sabotage and psychological distress mediates this relationship. Furthermore, resilience moderates the connection between abusive supervision and knowledge sabotage such that higher resilience reduces negative effects. The findings show that supportive leadership, resilience-building interventions, and stress-reduction interventions are relevant in encouraging positive working environments and knowledge sharing in hospitality organizations. The study is a unique contribution to the literature because it explores how resilience and psychological distress influence knowledge sabotage development in the Indian hospitality industry.