| The mechanism by which perceived supervisor support (PSS) mediates relationships between subordinate-perceived leader behaviors and the outcomes of commitment to and satisfaction with one's supervisor was investigated. 170 subjects with a mean age of 32 completed surveys using hardcopies or web-based data collection methods. Results indicate that PSS mediated the relationships of the antecedents of supervisor consideration, initiation of structure, and informal feedback on the outcomes of subordinate affective commitment to supervisor and satisfaction with supervisor. PSS may also mediate the relationship between informal feedback and normative commitment. This study shows that organizations should not assume that particular supervisor behaviors will lead to desired employee attitudes. Instead, employers would benefit from recognizing the key mediating role of PSS and attempt to foster higher levels of PSS. |
