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

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.

Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM) Therapy

Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM) is a brief, semistructured individual intervention designed to alleviate distress and to promote psychological growth in individuals with advanced disease. This intervention emerged from a longitudinal program of research and from the theoretical traditions of relational, attachment, and existential theory. Through a process that supports affect regulation, attachment security, and reflective functioning, CALM focuses on four content domains: (1) symptom management and communication with health care providers; (2) changes in self and relations with close others; (3) spiritual well-being, sense of meaning, and purpose; and (4) preparing for the future, sustaining hope, and facing mortality. Caregivers are invited to one or more CALM sessions, during which communication, relational strengths and disruptions, and hopes and fears related to the present and to the future are addressed. Qualitative research has shown that the structure of CALM provides a safe place for cancer patients to explore their fears, to be seen in human terms, and to face the challenges and threats of advancing disease. Quantitative research has shown that compared to usual care, it leads to significantly greater reduction in and prevention of depressive symptoms and improvement in death preparation. Therapist skill in the delivery of CALM is developed through didactic and experiential workshops and by ongoing supervision.

How exploitative leadership influences employee innovative behavior: the mediating role of relational attachment and moderating role of high-performance work systems

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between exploitative leadership and employee innovative behavior and explore the mediating role of relational attachment and the moderating role of high-performance work systems (HPWSs).Design/methodology/approachThis research collected data from 374 employees and their direct supervisors in 75 teams and tested a cross-level moderated mediation model using multilevel path analysis.FindingsThe results suggest that (1) exploitative leadership has a negative impact on employee innovative behavior; (2) relational attachment mediates the relationship between exploitative leadership and employee innovative behavior; (3) HPWS positively moderates the relationship between exploitative leadership and relational attachment and (4) HPWS moderates the mediating mechanism from exploitative leadership to employee innovative behavior.Practical implicationsThe empirical findings suggest that organizations should make efforts to prevent exploitative leadership. Moreover, managers should pay attention to the important role of relational attachment in promoting employee innovative behavior and realize the role of HPWSs in facilitating the negative effects of exploitative leadership.Originality/valueThis research identifies relational attachment as a key mediator that links exploitative leadership to innovative behavior and reveals the role of HPWSs in strengthening the negative effects of exploitative leadership on employee innovative behavior.

A Sustainable Solution to Overtourism in the Social Media Era: An Exploratory Analysis on the Roles and Functions of Place–Visitor Relationship (PVR)

As overtourism has become a serious threat to the tourism industry in recent years, this study attempts to extend the theoretical framework of organization-public relationship (OPR) developed in the public relations scholarship to the context of overtourism. To that end, the concept of place–visitor relationship (PVR) is theoretically suggested and empirically tested in a structural equation model. Also, statistical reliability and validity of PVR are put under investigation. The findings helped confirm the roles and functions of PVR as a potential solution to overtourism in the social media era. As an antecedent, visitors’ affective tour experiences stemming from exposure to social media information significantly influenced PVR. PVR, on the other hand, significantly affected attitudes toward a place and, further, behavioral intentions toward measures against overtourism. In addition, the findings revealed that PVR consists of two sub-factors: Loyalty and relational attachment. Relationship strategies as a solution to the issue of overtourism are discussed in light of PVR.

Social pedagogy as relational attachment practice

The utility of social pedagogy as an approach to building resiliency and developing positive relationships with children and youth is currently underdeveloped in North America. However, there are signs of growth in this field. For example, one youth project in British Columbia, Canada, employs relationship building, collaboration and creativity in terms of music- or art-based community interventions as part of its programme. The findings from a recent evaluation report on this youth project will be used to explore the potential for a social pedagogical approach being deployed more widely, and possibly more effectively, than current youth-focused practice. Specifically, the importance of relational practice, underpinned by aspects of attachment theory will be used to explore the utility of social pedagogical practices and examine the possibility of its development within a number of professional contexts.