Supervisors Who Abuse Subordinates may benefit from Exercise?

Supervisors who are prone to abuse subordinates; putting them into embarrassing situations, making derogatory statements, harassment and bullying, may benefit from some exercise, according to a study made by researchers from Northern Illinois University.

The problem of superiors abusing subordinates is a long-recognized problem prevalent in almost all occupations. But this problem is more prominent in fast-paced and high-demand occupations, where supervisors are at struggle to comply with time and performance limits. It puts them into great stress, and they are prone to blame it to everyone. Underlings are most vulnerable due to their position, and because a lot of employees are reluctant to fight people at higher ladders of authority.

 

Exercise can help supervisors handle stress better

Tumultuous economic climate can intensify rude behavior of supervisors among underlings. The study explores the effect of exercise to supervisor stress and employee perceptions of abusive supervision. It involves providing questionnaires to 98 MBA students and 98 of their supervisors. Students rate the abusive behavior of their supervisors while the supervisors answered questions about their exercise levels.

Results show that less exercise among supervisors is linked to abusive behavior toward underlings, and vice versa. Students reported that they were victimized when supervisors are stressed. But they reported less abuse among supervisors who reported to engage in regular exercise. It seems that physical activity as little as two times a week is enough to make a difference, even if the supervisor experienced stress.

 

The study is significant because it gives support for the effectivity of corporate wellness programs in increasing productivity and performance of employees, and supervisors as well.

The study is available online at the Springer’s Journal of Business and Psychology.

 

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