Supervisors' interpersonal styles: An integrative perspective and a measure based on self-determination theory

Abstract

This research addresses recent calls for an alternative integrative framework to apprehend leaders' behaviors and examines the validity ofaquestionnaire anchored in this theoretical approach. Building upon Self-Determination Theory, we examined a tripartite approach of supervisors' behaviors (supportive, thwarting, and indifferent toward subordinates' psychological needs). The psychometric properties of this Tripartite Measure of Interpersonal Behaviors-Supervisor (TMIB-S) were tested through three studies. Results from bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling supported a solution including one global factor and three specific factors reflecting need supportive, thwarting, and indifferent behaviors. This solution was fully invariant across distinct samples of French- and English-speaking employees. Results also supported the criterion-related and discriminant validity of the TMIB-S. More specifically, results supported the added-value of the TMIB-S, when compared to well-established measures of leadership (passive leadership, abusive supervision, LMX, and tranformational leadership) in predicting well- and ill-being. Results also highlighted well-differentiated effects of the different components of supervisory behaviors and showed that supervisors' need indifferent behaviors constitute a key piece in the prediction of employees' health-related consequences.