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“Trapped in the spiral”: how abusive supervision fuels quiet quitting through employee cynicism and acquiescent silence

Anubhuti Saxena et al.

International Journal of Conflict Management2026https://doi.org/10.1108/ijcma-08-2025-0279article
AJG 2ABDC A
Weight
0.50

Abstract

Purpose The study aims to examine the impact of abusive supervision (AS) on quiet quitting (QQ) in the Indian hospitality industry. Grounded in the job demands–resources (JD-R) theory, it explores the mediating role of employee cynicism (EC) and acquiescent silence (ACS) and the moderating effect of employee resilience (ER). Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a quantitative research design and the data were collected from 289 employees working in hotels across Delhi NCR. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses. Findings The results revealed a significant positive relationship between AS and QQ. The mediation analysis confirmed that EC and ACS act as critical pathways through which AS leads to QQ. Additionally, ER moderated and buffered the negative effects of AS and EC on QQ but not the direct impact of ACS. Practical implications The hospitality industry must address AS to prevent toxic work environments and reduce QQ. Prioritizing leadership training, enhancing employee resilience and enforcing zero-tolerance policies through effective feedback mechanisms can mitigate disengagement and promote a healthier workplace. Originality/value This study contributes to the emerging literature on QQ by exploring psychological mechanisms in the hospitality context. It emphasizes the significance of resilience and supports the relevance of JD-R theory in explaining modern employee behavior.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/ijcma-08-2025-0279

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@article{anubhuti2026,
  title        = {{“Trapped in the spiral”: how abusive supervision fuels quiet quitting through employee cynicism and acquiescent silence}},
  author       = {Anubhuti Saxena et al.},
  journal      = {International Journal of Conflict Management},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/ijcma-08-2025-0279},
}

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“Trapped in the spiral”: how abusive supervision fuels quiet quitting through employee cynicism and acquiescent silence

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

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