Stress, Gossip, and Cynism; The mediatory role of Abusive Supervisor towards Emotional Exhaustion in the Banking Industry of Pakistan

Abstract

This study explores how emotional exhaustion is affected by stress, cynicism, and gossip in Pakistani banking while including abusive supervision as a mediator. The study's focus extends to delineating the governing role abusive supervision plays in the relationship between stress, gossip, and cynicism, and their subsequent impact on emotional exhaustion among employees in Pakistan's educational sector. Data were primarily gathered through a Google Form survey, employing a convenience sampling method targeted at employees in the banking industry. Analytical procedures were conducted using Smart PLS V.3 to evaluate both measurement and structural models. All hypotheses were rigorously tested, revealing that stress, gossip, and cynicism are correlated with emotional exhaustion when mediated by abusive supervision. Intriguingly, the study found that gossip does not directly influence emotional exhaustion. The findings emphasize that abusive supervision exacerbates factors leading to emotional exhaustion in subordinates, adversely affecting their mental well-being. The study conclusively demonstrates the significant mediating role that abusive supervision plays in linking stress, gossip, and cynicism to emotional exhaustion.