How and when does perceived supervisor support for strengths use influence employee strengths use? The roles of positive affect and self-efficacy

Abstract

The present study sought to investigate how positive affect would mediate the relationship between employee perceived supervisor support for strengths use (PSSSU) and actual employee strengths use as well as the moderating effect of self-efficacy on the relationship. We gathered data from 218 employees (53.7% = male; mean age = 34.51 years, SD = 7.45 years) working in various organisations and at three points in time, separated by a four-week interval. Results of a moderated-mediation path analysis indicated positive affect to partially mediate the positive association between PSSSU and employee strengths use. In addition, self-efficacy positively moderated the direct effect of PSSSU on positive affect. Self-efficacy also positively moderated the indirect effect of PSSSU on strengths use via positive affect. Self-efficacy influences employee perceptions of perceived supervisor support for strength use and their actual use of work strengths.

Keywords:

• perceived supervisor support for strengths use
• strengths use
• positive affect
• self-efficacy

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2020MS046). The authors are grateful to the employees who participated in this study.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from He Ding ([email protected]), upon reasonable request.