Research on the mechanism of leader aggressive humor on employee silence: A conditional process model

Abstract

The aggressive humor of leaders affects the psychological state of employees, which can easily lead to employee inaction in the organization and may even prompt employees to engage in unethical behaviors. In the context, this study conducted a questionnaire survey of 316 Chinese adult employees to examine the mechanism underlying the relationship between leader aggressive humor and employee silence. Results demonstrated that leader aggressive humor is positively correlated with employee silence; psychological security plays a mediating role between leader aggressive humor and employee silence; coworker support positively moderates (buffers) the relationship between leader aggressive humor and psychological security, and coworker support plays a moderating role in the process of the indirect influence of leader aggressive humor on employee silence through psychological security. These findings expand the research of aggressive humor and employee silence, have important significance for reducing the occurrence of aggressive humor and building a harmonious organizational environment.