The impact of supervisor humor on newcomer adjustment: The mediating role of relational identification

Abstract

Purpose

Substantial research has examined the pivotal role of supervisor positive humor in generating employee outcomes. To date, though, little is known about the relationship between supervisor humor and newcomers’ adjustment. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to this gap by examining the effect of supervisor positive humor on newcomers’ adjustment. In doing so, the authors highlighted relational identification with the supervisor as a mediating mechanism that explains the aforementioned association.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were drawn from 117 newcomers. In order to collect the data the authors used the snowball method. Also, hierarchical regression analysis was conducted.

Findings

The results demonstrated that supervisor positive humor affects employees’ relational identification with the supervisor which, in turn, positively relates to newcomers’ adjustment.

Research limitations/implications

Data were collected using a cross-sectional design and, therefore, the authors cannot directly assess causality. Moreover, the authors used self-report measures which may strengthen the causal relationships.

Originality/value

To the best of the knowledge, this is the first study that illustrates the role of supervisor humor in enhancing both newcomers’ relational identification and adjustment.

Citation

Gkorezis, P., Petridou, E. and Lioliou, K. (2016), "The impact of supervisor humor on newcomer adjustment: The mediating role of relational identification", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 37 No. 4, pp. 540-554. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-08-2014-0161