Mentoring and newcomer well-being: a socialization resources perspective

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of mentoring on newcomer well-being, as mediated by newcomer socialization and moderated by proactive personality.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected at four time points in a sample of 227 newcomers. Regression analysis and bootstrapping method were used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

Mentoring had a positive and indirect effect on newcomer well-being through socialization. The moderated mediation analysis also revealed that proactive personality augmented the direct effect of mentoring on socialization and its indirect effect on well-being.

Research limitations/implications

Our data were collected in China, thereby limiting the generalization of the research findings. Future research can test our model in different cultural contexts.

Practical implications

Organizations should consider establishing a mentoring program to foster newcomer socialization and achieve well-being. Within the mentoring context, cultivating newcomers to become more proactive can predict higher socialization levels, resulting in higher well-being.

Originality/value

Previous research largely focused on the development of the well-being of tenured employees. Drawing on socialization resources theory, this study focuses on the newcomer well-being and proposes the influential mechanism and boundary condition of the relationship between mentoring and newcomer well-being. It sheds light on exploring the well-being development for newcomers.

Citation

Cai, D., Liu, S., Liu, J., Yao, L. and Jia, X. (2021), "Mentoring and newcomer well-being: a socialization resources perspective", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 36 No. 3, pp. 285-298. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-08-2019-0485