The paradoxical effect of social support on the relationship between exposure to bullying behaviors and perceived power imbalance

Abstract Power imbalance is a core characteristic in many definitions of workplace bullying. Yet, research on preventive and conditional factors related to power imbalance remains limited. This study investigates whether social support from the supervisor and colleagues moderates the relationship between exposure to bullying behaviors and the perceived power imbalance with the perpetrator(s), as seen from the target’s perspective. Grounded in conservation of resources theory, we hypothesized that both types of social support would mitigate this relationship. Drawing on data from 374 Norwegian child welfare social workers, findings from a bootstrapped general linear model with tests for interaction effects contradicted this expectation. Instead, colleague- and supervisor-support were found to exacerbate the positive association between bullying behaviors and perceived power imbalance. More specifically, results indicated that in the context of low exposure, targets experienced less power imbalance when they have access to social support. In cases of high exposure, bullying behaviors were associated with high power imbalance, irrespective of levels of support. Such a reversed buffering effect may be explained by considering the nature of the support provided: while emotional support may heighten the target’s awareness of the bullying without alleviating the mistreatment itself, instrumental support may be most effective to help reduce the power imbalance. Thus, the type of support received may be critical in influencing the perceived power dynamics in bullying situations.