Mentoring and newcomer well-being: a socialization resources perspective

PurposeThe 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/approachData were collected at four time points in a sample of 227 newcomers. Regression analysis and bootstrapping method were used to test the hypotheses.FindingsMentoring 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/implicationsOur data were collected in China, thereby limiting the generalization of the research findings. Future research can test our model in different cultural contexts.Practical implicationsOrganizations 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/valuePrevious 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.

Effect of coworker ostracism on newcomer socialization: A self-control perspective

Researchers have consistently reported the negative role of workplace ostracism, and the importance of newcomers to an organization. However, none have examined the effect of coworker ostracism on newcomer socialization. Drawing on the strength model of self-control, we empirically tested the effect of coworker ostracism on newcomer socialization via the mediator of state self-control. Participants were 155 matched supervisor–subordinate dyads. Results show that coworker ostracism toward newcomers was negatively related to newcomer socialization and that this relationship was mediated by state self-control. Further, the direct effect of coworker ostracism on state self-control and the indirect effect of coworker ostracism on newcomer socialization were moderated by proactive personality. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.