DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A MEASUREMENT SCALE FOR THE QUEEN BEE SYNDROME

This study developed the Women Subordinates Perceived Women Supervisors’ Queen Bee Syndrome Scale (SPQBS) to measure women supervisors’ queen bee syndrome (QBS). First, we used an inductive procedure to generate the primary items through in-depth interviews with women subordinates who work with women supervisors. Second, we conducted a survey to identify possible dimensions of QBS through EFA (N=205). Finally, we conducted a two-wave survey to validate the measure using CFA (N=309) and criterion-related validity (N=204). We concluded that the scale includes five dimensions: alienated relationship, constrained communication, constrained reliance, ineffective mentoring, and constrained development. Each dimension includes three items; thus, the construct comprises 15 items in total. To date, the mainstream quantitative studies on QBS have used indirect measures, such as woman supervisor’s masculine self-description and career commitment, labeling women with these features as queen bees without a solid theoretical or phenomenal foundation. The development of the SPQBS provides a new way to measure QBS more directly than previous studies by examining women subordinates’ perspective. Thus, this measure has the potential to enrich research on leadership and diversity, equity, and inclusion.