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The Journal of Social Psychology Volume 146, 2006 - Issue 1
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Original Article

Too Much of a Good Thing: The Curvilinear Effect of Leader-Member Exchange on Stress

Kenneth J. Harris School of Business, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany
&
K. Michele Kacmar Management and Marketing Department, Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Pages 65-84 | Published online: 07 Aug 2010
 
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Abstract

Organizational researchers have given considerable attention to the construct of leader-member exchange (LMX). Numerous studies have empirically supported the negative correlations between LMX relationships and unwanted individual outcomes, including stress. However, in the present study, the authors investigated whether the relationship is best represented as linear or curvilinear. The authors tested their research hypothesis in two organizational samples of 120 and 402 employees, respectively, and found support for the nonlinear relationship in both samples. The authors described strengths, limitations, practical implications, and directions for future research.

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