Supervisor security provision: correlates and related mechanisms

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Organizational Behavior
• Attachment Theory

Background:

• Attachment theory, typically applied to interpersonal relationships, is increasingly explored in the context of employee-supervisor dynamics.
• Secure attachment in relationships is linked to numerous positive outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between supervisors' provision of attachment-related security and employee work-related outcomes.
• To identify the psychological mechanisms mediating these associations.

Main Methods:

• Two studies were conducted involving participants who completed measures assessing their supervisors' security provisions.
• Employee outcomes such as job satisfaction, organizational commitment, burnout, and performance were measured.

Main Results:

• Supervisors' security provisions positively correlated with work-related outcomes.
• Closeness behaviors mediated these associations in Study 1.
• Employees' sense of meaning at work mediated these associations when supervisors and employees were of the same sex in Study 2.

Conclusions:

• Findings support the applicability of attachment theory to employee-supervisor relationships.
• Closeness behaviors and a sense of meaning at work are key psychological mechanisms linking supervisor security provision to positive employee outcomes.