Why does formal mentoring matter? The mediating role of psychological safety and the moderating role of power distance orientation in the Chinese context

作者：Chen, Cheng^*; Liao, Jianqiao; Wen, Peng

来源：International Journal of Human Resource Management, 2014, 25(8): 1112-1130.

DOI：10.1080/09585192.2013.816861

• affective commitment
• formal mentoring
• power distance orientation
• psychological safety
• turnover intention

Formal mentoring programs continue to gain popularity within various organizations due to their positive impact on proteges' career successes. However, to date, relevant research has focused on the benefits of informal mentoring relationships. To narrow the literature gap, this study was conducted to examine whether, how and when the amount of formal mentoring provided by mentors influenced proteges' work attitudes. Based on 208 formal mentor-protege dyads from the People's Republic of China, we found that the amount of formal mentoring provided by mentors related positively to proteges' affective commitment and related negatively to turnover intention. Furthermore, perceived psychological safety of proteges partially mediated the relationship between the amount of formal mentoring and affective commitment, whereas it completely mediated the relationship between the amount of formal mentoring and turnover intention. Finally, proteges' power distance orientation moderated the relationship between the amount of formal mentoring and perceived psychological safety. Additionally, implications for research and practice from our findings are discussed.

• 出版日期2014-4-28
• 单位华中师范大学