Open Access

ARTICLE

Do coping strategies play a role? Examining the effects of abusive supervision and work engagement on employees’ helping behavior

Anthony Frank Obeng, Yongyue Zhu^*

School of Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China

* Corresponding Author: Yongyue Zhu. Email:

Journal of Psychology in Africa 2025, 35(4), 505-512. https://doi.org/10.32604/jpa.2025.070121

Received 07 January 2025; Accepted 24 May 2025; Issue published 17 August 2025

Abstract

The study examined work engagement and coping strategies in the relationship between abusive supervision and helping behaviors among hospitality employees. Participants were 386 frontline hospitality employees (50.8% females; 38.9% with 1–5 years of experience; 78.3% in the 18–40 age range). They self-reported coping strategies, abusive supervision, work engagement, and helping behaviors. Structural equation model results showed that abusive supervision to be associated with lower employee helping behaviors. Work engagement was higher with employees’ helping behaviors. Engaged employees would unleash helping behaviors. Work engagement mediated the relationship between abusive supervision and helping behaviors, lowering the abusive supervision risk. Finally, avoidance of contact exacerbated the moderated abusive supervision–work engagement relationship for lower work engagement, while support-seeking and reframing exerted no moderation role. Findings suggest that avoiding an immediate supervisor exacerbates abusive supervision. Hence, applying behavior-based interviews when hiring supervisors would be of strategic advantage to employees’ productivity.

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Keywords

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