The Role of Humor in Leader-Follower Relationships in Nigerian Workplaces: A Study of Cultural Moderation Effects

Adisa, T. A., Mordi, C., & Mordi, T. (2017). The challenges and realities of work-family balance among Nigerian female doctors and nurses. Economic Insights – Trends and Challenges, 6(1), 23–37. Bewell, H., Yakubu, S., & Owolabi, S. (2014). Workplace stress in Nigerian organizations: A power distance perspective. Journal of Management and Organizational Behavior, 3(2), 45–58. Blau, P. M. (1964). Exchange and power in social life. Wiley. Cooper, C. D., Kong, D. T., & Crossley, C. D. (2018). Leader humor as an interpersonal resource: Integrating three theoretical perspectives. Academy of Management Journal, 61(2), 769– 796. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2014.0358 Fajana, S., Owoyemi, O., Elegbede, T., & Gbajumo-Sheriff, M. (2011). Human resource management practices in Nigeria. Journal of Management and Strategy, 2(2), 57–62. Graen, G. B., & Uhl-Bien, M. (1995). Relationship-based approach to leadership: Development of leader-member exchange theory of leadership over 25 years. Leadership Quarterly, 6(2), 219–247. https://doi.org/10.1016/1048-9843(95)90036-2 Hofstede Insights. (n.d.). Country comparison: Nigeria. Retrieved June 2026, from https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country/nigeria House, R. J., Hanges, P. J., Javidan, M., Dorfman, P. W., & Gupta, V. (Eds.). (2004). Culture, leadership, and organizations: The GLOBE study of 62 societies. Sage Publications. Ituma, A., & Simpson, R. (2007). Moving beyond Schein's typology: Individual career anchors in the context of Nigeria. Personnel Review, 36(6), 978–995. https://doi.org/10.1108/00483480710822445 Kong, D. T., Cooper, C. D., & Sosik, J. J. (2019). The state of research on leader humor. Organizational Psychology Review, 9(1), 3–40. https://doi.org/10.1177/2041386619846948 Mao, J., Chen, X., & Liu, S. (2017). Asymmetric effects of leader humor on subordinates' silence and voice behaviors. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, Article 1976. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01976 Martin, R. A., Puhlik-Doris, P., Larsen, G., Gray, J., & Weir, K. (2003). Individual differences in uses of humor and their relation to psychological well-being: Development of the Humor Styles Questionnaire. Journal of Research in Personality, 37(1), 48–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0092-6566(02)00534-2 Mesmer-Magnus, J., Glew, D. J., & Viswesvaran, C. (2012). A meta-analysis of positive humor in the workplace. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 27(2), 155–190. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683941211199554 Ojo, O. (2012). Influence of organizational culture on employee work behavior. International Journal of Contemporary Business Studies, 3(11), 11–26. Okafor, E. E. (2018). Hierarchy, power distance, and employee participation in Nigerian organizations. African Journal of Business Management, 12(4), 89–98. Oruh, E. S., Mordi, C., Dibia, C. H., & Ajonbadi, H. A. (2020). Exploring compassionate managerial leadership style in reducing employee stress level during COVID-19 crisis: The case of Nigeria. Employee Relations, 43(6), 1362–1381. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-06- 2020-0302 P-ISSN 2695-186X Ovadje, F., & Ankomah, A. (2001). Human resource management in Nigeria. In P. S. Budhwar & Y. A. Debrah (Eds.), Human resource management in developing countries (pp. 158–173). Routledge. Pundt, A., & Herrmann, F. (2015). Affiliative and aggressive humour in leadership and their relationship to leader–member exchange. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 88(1), 108–125. https://doi.org/10.1111/joop.12081 Robert, C., & Wilbanks, J. E. (2012). The wheel model of humor: Humor events and affect in organizations. Human Relations, 65(9), 1071–1099. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726712445934 Tan, L., Wang, Y., & Zhao, S. (2023). Does my humor touch you? Effect of leader self-deprecating humour on employee silence: The mediating role of leader-member exchange. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, Article 1132023. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1132023 Ugwu, F. O. (2014). Service climate and customer-oriented boundary-spanning behaviour in Nigerian banks: A test of mediating processes. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 40(1), 1–10. Yam, K. C., Christian, M. S., Wei, W., Liao, Z., & Nai, J. (2018). The mixed blessing of leader sense of humor: Examining costs and benefits. Academy of Management Journal, 61(1), 348–369. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2015.1088