Examining Abusive Supervision Through the Lens of Behavioral Cultural Intelligence: Insights from Hotel Employees

Based on conservation of resources theory, this study investigated the moderating effect of behavioral cultural intelligence on the consequences of abusive supervision in international hotels in China. Two waves of data were collected from hotel employees, and 185 valid responses were obtained. The results revealed that abusive supervision adversely affected leader–member exchange and triggered knowledge hiding, while elevated behavioral cultural intelligence encouraged subordinates to manage their knowledge flexibly. These results indicate that subordinates consider behavioral cultural intelligence a valuable resource that prevents excessive resource loss and increases their adaptability in a toxic environment. The findings highlight the importance of nurturing behavioral cultural intelligence in the hospitality industry, offering practical guidance for hospitality organizations of cultivating positive leadership practices and fostering supportive work environments that effectively counteract the detrimental effects of abusive supervision.