Blame attributions for experienced incivility and links to leader well-being : a mixed-methods approach

Abstract

The current mixed-methods study applied latent variable modelling to understand unique subpopulations of leaders attributing blame for an uncivil incident instigated by a higher-up. Profiles of blame attributors were developed as a combination of internal, perpetrator, relational, situational and gender-extrinsic attributions. Latent Profile Analysis conducted on the quantitative attribution scales uncovered four profiles (<i>perpetrator-dominant, perpetrator-situational, balanced, muted-balanced</i>) and Latent Class Analysis conducted on the qualitative codes transformed from incident descriptions uncovered two profiles (<i>perpetrator-dominant, perpetrator-situational</i>). Differences between the Latent Profile Analysis profiles in subsequent well-being were observed for high-intensity and low-intensity negative affect and high-intensity positive affect, but not for low-intensity positive affect. Attribution profiles were explored, in part, through a gender-lens but no significant differences in the gender distribution of leaders across profiles were observed. Study limitations, implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.