New research suggests that men act more assertively toward their female supervisors than male bosses.

Researchers found that men sometimes are so threatened by female supervisors they sometimes undermine their authority, which could disrupt the workplace with struggles over power dynamics.

"The concept of masculinity is becoming more elusive in society as gender roles blur, with more women taking management positions and becoming the major breadwinners for their families," Ekaterina Netchaeva, lead researcher of the study, said in a statement. "Even men who support gender equality may see these advances as a threat to their masculinity, whether they consciously acknowledge it or not."

According to Labor Department statistics, while women are underrepresented in senior management positions in the United States, they are almost on par with men at middle and lower management levels, according to Labor Department statistics.

For the study, researchers conducted three experiments involving more than 500 people and discovered that men feel more threatened when they answer to female bosses.

According to Netchaeva, self-assertive behavior by men toward their female bosses or supervisors could negatively affect team performance and disrupt the workplace environment.

"In an ideal world, men and organizations would be concerned by these findings and adjust their behavior accordingly. But if they don't, where does that leave women?" she said. "Given the strong societal norms surrounding masculinity, it may be difficult for men to recognize or change their behavior."

If this self-assertive behavior from men continues, female supervisors may want to appear more proactive and less power-seeking to maintain smooth relationships in the workplace, Netchaeva said.

The findings are detailed in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.