An Examination of the Multidimensionality of Supervisor and Subordinate Perceptions of Leader-Member Exchange

Publication Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

9-2006

Abstract

Research on leader-member exchange (LMX) theory typically has measured LMX in a unidimensional manner and has neglected supervisor perceptions of the LMX relationship. The present study developed and validated a multidimensional scale of supervisor LMX based on Liden and Maslyn's (1998) multidimensional subordinate LMX scale. Confirmatory factor analyses supported a multidimensional factor structure for both supervisor and subordinate LMX scales with four distinct dimensions: affect, loyalty, contribution, and professional respect. Results further indicated that these dimensions differentially predicted various criteria indicating that different aspects of the LMX relationship are of greater or lesser importance depending upon the criterion of interest. Additionally, results indicated that multidimensional LMX scales measured from both supervisor and subordinate perspectives predict important individual job attitudes and behaviours above scales that are either unidimensional or measured from just one perspective.

Discipline

Human Resources Management | Organizational Behavior and Theory

Research Areas

Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources

Publication

Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology

Volume

79

Issue

3

First Page

433

Last Page

465

ISSN

0963-1798

Identifier

10.1348/096317905X53859

Publisher

Wiley

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1348/096317905X53859

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