ADRIENNE COTET,,A
Texas A&M University
ARUP VARMA
Loyola University, Chicago
An organizational simulation (n = 85) and a field study (41 supervisors and 220
subordinates) were conducted to investigate the impact of subordinates' disability
status on leader-member exchange (LMX) relationships. Both studies investigated how
subordinate disability and ingratiation were related to LMX quality. As hypothesized,
the interaction of disability and ingratiation affected LMX. Ingratiation had a stronger
relationship to supervisors' LMX ratings when a subordinate had a disability. Implications
of the results are discussed and suggestions for future research presented.