Why Does Leader–Member Exchange Ambivalence Reduce Taking Charge? The Moderating Role of Cognitive Reappraisal

Drawing from conservation of resources (COR) theory, our research examines the negative influence of leader–member exchange (LMX) ambivalence on taking charge via emotional exhaustion. This study uses a moderated mediation framework based on multiphase, multisource data from 196 dyads comprising full-time employees and their immediate supervisors and suggests that cognitive reappraisal attenuates the strength of the relationship between LMX ambivalence and taking charge as mediated by emotional exhaustion. Our research also indicates that this mediated relationship weakens under high cognitive reappraisal and discusses theoretical and practical implications.