The Moderation Role of Supervisor Support in the Interaction of Illegitimate Task, Emotional Exhaustion, and Self-Undermining: a Job-Demand Resources Approach

Abstract

The study aims to reveal both the direct and indirect association between Illegitimate Tasks and Self-Undermining behavior through Emotional Exhaustion, with a focus on the moderating role of Supervisor support. It also seeks to highlight the conditions under which Supervisor support provides positive organizational outcomes. A survey was applied to 978 white-collar participants working in SMEs in Turkey. The Job-Demand Resources framework served as the theoretical basis for the research. Results indicated that Illegitimate Tasks are associated with self-undermining, with emotional exhaustion partially mediating this relationship. Supervisor support was found to have a negative relationship with emotional exhaustion and self-undermining; however, its moderating role was positive rather than negative. Supervisor support increased the effect of illegitimate tasks on emotional exhaustion and self-undermining, contradicting the expected buffering effect. The study contributes to the literature by offering evidence on when supervisor support becomes dysfunctional for organizations.