INVESTIGATING THE IMPACT OF ABUSIVE SUPERVISION ON DEVIANT WORKPLACE BEHAVIOUR WITH MEDIATING EFFECT OF BREACH OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTRACT AND MODERATING EFFECT OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP; A STUDY OF NOMOLOGICAL NETWORK OF CONSTRUCTS IN THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

This study focused on the of deviant workplace behaviour and examined the association between abusive supervision and deviant workplace behaviour, the mediating effect of breach of psychological contract between abusive supervision and deviant workplace behavior, as well as by analyzing the moderating effect of transformational leadership between breach of psychological contract and deviant workplace behaviour. This Nomological network of constructs study is explained by drawing upon the support of theories (e.g., social exchange theory, social learning theory and psychological contract theory) to the study framework in health sector of Pakistan. The targeted population was of Pakistan's public healthcare sector of Punjab, and followed by a convenience sampling design. Sample of 280 physicians, doctors, nurses and allied professional staff serving in the public health care sector of Punjab, Pakistan. A questionnaire survey was adopted as research tool for the collection of data. Data was analyzed through SPSS and Smart PLS.4. To test hypotheses, the Partial Least Squares method of Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed. Outcome of the data analysis revealed that abusive supervision has a positive significant association with deviant workplace behaviour and a negative with breach of psychological contract in a partial mediation model. Breach of psychological contract was found positively linked with deviant workplace behaviour whereas transformational leadership was identified for weakening the relationship between breach of psychological contract and deviant workplace behaviour. The findings of this study offer new insights for the organizational practitioners and researchers and useful for the Human Resource Managers because the adequate implication of transformational leadership can aid in reducing abusive supervision and deviant workplace behaviour in public sector health organizations. This study theoretically contributed nomological network of constructs in research and finally, the study concludes with limitations, recommendations for future research directions.

Keywords: Abusive Supervision, Deviant Workplace Behavior, Psychological Contract Breach and Transformational Leadership, Public Sector Organizations Pakistan