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Does social support at work enhance subjective career success? The mediating role of relational attachment

Yasir Mansoor Kundi (IAE Aix-Marseille Graduate School of Management, CERGAM, Aix-Marseille University, Aix-en-Provence, France)
Shuaib Ahmed Soomro (Sukkur IBA University, Sukkur, Pakistan)
Muhammad Kamran (Faculty of Management, University of Warsaw, Poland and Warsaw University of Business, Warsaw, Poland)

International Journal of Organizational Analysis

ISSN: 1934-8835

Article publication date: 19 May 2021

Issue publication date: 7 December 2022

646

Abstract

Purpose

Drawing on Kahn’s model of meaningful connections, this study aims to examine relational attachment as a mediating mechanism linking social support in terms of instrumental support and personal support to employees’ subjective career success.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected in 2 waves from 247 employees working in Poland. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling in AMOS.

Findings

The findings indicated that employees are more attached to and satisfied with their careers when they have a stronger relational attachment to others at work. Furthermore, relational attachment was found to be driven by tangible or intangible instrumental support received at work rather than the personal support received at work.

Practical implications

Managers should recognize the importance of workplace relationships and social support, which can lead to higher career commitment and career satisfaction. However, managers should keep in mind that too much interference in individuals’ privacy and providing too much personal support may lead to adverse outcomes.

Originality/value

The present study expands the scant literature on the mediating role of relational attachment at work between social support received at work and subjective career success.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr Naeem Ashraf for providing feedback on earlier drafts of this article.

Citation

Kundi, Y.M., Soomro, S.A. and Kamran, M. (2022), "Does social support at work enhance subjective career success? The mediating role of relational attachment", International Journal of Organizational Analysis, Vol. 30 No. 6, pp. 1491-1507. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-08-2020-2379

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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