How does the servant supervisor influence the employability of postgraduates? Exploring the mechanisms of self-efficacy and academic engagement

Lifeng Zhong (), Zhichao Qian () and Dongdong Wang ()
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Lifeng Zhong: Renmin University of China
Zhichao Qian: Renmin University of China
Dongdong Wang: Nanjing University of Finance & Economics

Frontiers of Business Research in China, 2020, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-20

Abstract: Abstract Drawing on the conservation of resource theory, this study investigates the mediating effects of self-efficacy and academic engagement in the relationship between servant supervision and postgraduates’ employability. We conducted a field study with 598 postgraduates (students for the research-based master's degree and PhD candidates) enrolled in universities in China to test our hypotheses. We developed and tested a model contending that servant supervisors propagate servant supervision among postgraduates through postgraduates’ self-efficacy and academic engagement, which indirectly influences postgraduates’ employability. The results support the mediating effects of both self-efficacy and academic engagement on the relationship between servant supervision and postgraduates’ employability. Finally, the theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Keywords: Servant supervision; Self-efficacy; Academic engagement; Employability; Conservation of resource theory; Postgraduates; Leadership (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1186/s11782-020-00079-1

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